Today In
History Monday January 31, 2011
1865 - In America, General Robert E. Lee was named general-in-chief of
the Confederate armies.
1865 - The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was passed by the
U.S. House of Representatives. It was ratified by the necessary number
of states on December 6, 1865. The
amendment abolished slavery in the United States.
1876 - All Native American Indians were ordered to move into
reservations.
1893 - The trademark "Coca-Cola" was first registered in the United
States Patent Office.
1917 - Germany announced its policy of unrestricted submarine warfare.
1929 - The USSR exiled Leon Trotsky. He found asylum in Mexico.
1930 - U.S. Navy Lt. Ralph S. Barnaby became the first glider pilot to
have his craft released from a dirigible, a large blimp, at Lakehurst,
NJ.
1940 - The first Social Security check was issued by the U.S.
Government.
1944 - During World War II, U.S. forces invaded Kwajalein Atoll and
other areas of the Japanese-held Marshall Islands.
1945 - Private Eddie Slovik became the only U.S. soldier since the U.S.
Civil War to be executed for desertion.
1946 - A new constitution in Yugoslavia created six constituent
republics (Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina,
Macedonia) subordinated to a central authority, on the model of the
USSR.
1949 - The first TV daytime soap opera was broadcast from NBC's station
in Chicago, IL. It was "These Are My Children."
1950 - U.S. President Truman announced that he had ordered development
of the hydrogen bomb.
1958 - Explorer I was put into orbit around the earth. It was the first
U.S. earth satellite.
1971 - Astronauts Alan B. Shepard Jr., Edgar D. Mitchell and Stuart A.
Roosa blasted off aboard Apollo 14 on a mission to the moon.
1971 - Telephone service between East and West Berlin was re-established
after 19 years.
1983 - The wearing of seat belts in cars became compulsory in Britain.
1983 - JCPenney announced plans to spend in excess of $1 billion over
the next five years to modernize stores and to accelerate a
repositioning program.
1985 - The final Jeep rolled off the assembly line at the AMC plant in
Toledo, OH.
1990 - McDonald's Corp. opened its first fast-food restaurant in Moscow,
Russia.
1995 - U.S. President Clinton invoked presidential emergency authority
to provide a $20 billion loan to Mexico to stabilize its economy.
2000 - An Alaska Airlines jet crashed into the ocean off Southern
California. All 88 people on board were killed.
2001 - A Scottish court in the Netherlands convicted one Libyan and
acquitted a second in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie,
Scotland, that occurred in 1988.

Malaysia unleashes 6,000 genetically-modified mosquitoes into wild
Malaysian officials recently set loose thousands of "Frankenbugs" into
the forests of Asia, purportedly to help curb the spread of dengue
fever. Scientists programmed the 6,000 genetically-modified (GM) Aedes
aegypti male mosquitoes in such a way that when they breed with females,
the offspring will die early and thus reduce their overall population.

Looters in Egypt Identified as Police Officers
As I write this, Egyptian military fighter jets are flying over Cairo in
a show of brute force while thousands of citizens on the ground raise
their fists to the sky chanting “get out,” directing their anger toward
the jets above.

How Apple and Google Will Kill the Password
Imagine sitting down at a public PC, surfing the Web, visiting Facebook,
checking your online bank account and buying something on Amazon.com --
all without entering passwords or credit card information.

Public Optimism But Little Progress on Doha Deal
DAVOS, Switzerland – Key global trade officials spoke of their optimism
that a new deal to liberalize international commerce can be finalized,
but offered little in the way of concrete progress Saturday to indicate
they can reach agreement before the end of the year.

Rogue Cancer Gene Discovered
This fills in the details on the recent announcement regarding the
ability to halt metastasis. The direct cause of metastasis is identified
and isolated. Interrupting the errant gene will halt metastasis cold.

Mubarak Gives Army Shoot-to-Kill Order
Reports say the army has been ordered to shoot when it sees fit.
Military helicopters and jet fighters fly over major locations as the
numbers of protesters multiply there.

Mubarak Meets Army as Obama Urges Reform
Egyptian protesters turned to the army and to a retired diplomat to
maintain momentum in efforts to unseat Hosni Mubarak, but as the
president's Western backers called for change he met the generals who
can keep him in power.

Cairo Protesters Stand Their Ground
Egyptian air force fighter planes buzzed low over Cairo, helicopters
hovered above and extra troop trucks appeared in a central square where
protesters were demanding an end to President Hosni Mubarak's rule.

Anti-Government Protest in Albania
TENS of thousands of demonstrators have started a silent protest in the
Albanian capital Tirana, a week to the day after clashes during an
opposition rally killed three.

Thousands Protests in Jordan
Thousands of people in Jordan have taken to the streets in protests,
demanding the country's prime minister step down, and the government
curb rising prices, inflation and unemployment.

New Protests Erupt in Yemen
Dozens of activists calling for the ouster of Ali Abdullah Saleh,
Yemen's president, have clashed with government supporters in Sanaa, the
country's capital.

Groundhog Day Blizzard Brings Travel Chaos
A large winter storm forecast to unfold could adversely affect more than
100 million people this week from the Rockies to the Plains, South,
Midwest and Northeast, if it develops to its full potential.

US Winter Wheat Faces Make or Break Week
America's parched hard red winter wheat crop may face something of a
make or break week, potentially receiving up to 20 inches of snow –
which it will need to protect it from a follow-up freeze.

TSA Shuts Door on Private Airport Screening Program
A program that allows airports to replace government screeners with
private screeners is being brought to a standstill, just a month after
the Transportation Security Administration said it was "neutral" on the
program.

Doctors in Training Taught to Physically Violate Unconscious Patients
Warning: Explicit language. We apologize for the extremely explicit
nature of this story, but we feel that publishing this truth, no matter
how repulsive, is in the public interest and serves the greater purpose
of informing patients about what can happen to them while under sedation
at hospitals.

Today In
History Friday January 28, 2011
1788 - The first British penal settlement was founded at Botany Bay.
1807 - London's Pall Mall became the first street lit by gaslight.
1871 - France surrendered in the Franco-Prussian War.
1878 - The first telephone switchboard was installed in New Haven, CT.
1902 - The Carnegie Institution was established in Washington, DC. It
began with a gift of $10 million from Andrew Carnegie.
1909 - The United States ended direct control over Cuba.
1915 - The Coast Guard was created by an act of the U.S. Congress to
fight contraband trade and aid distressed vessels at sea.
1918 - The Bolsheviks occupied Helsinki, Finland.
1922 - The National Football League (NFL) franchise in Decatur, IL,
transferred to Chicago. The team took the name Chicago Bears.
1935 - Iceland became the first country to introduce legalized abortion.
1938 - The first ski tow started operation in Vermont.
1945 - During World War II, Allied supplies began reaching China over
the newly reopened Burma Road.
1958 - Construction began on first private thorium-uranium nuclear
reactor.
1965 - General Motors reported the biggest profit of any U.S. company in
history.
1980 - Six Americans who had fled the U.S. embassy in Tehran, Iran, on
November 4, 1979, left Iran using false Canadian diplomatic passports.
The Americans had been hidden at the Canadian embassy in Tehran.
1982 - Italian anti-terrorism forces rescued U.S. Brigadier General
James L. Dozier. 42 days before he had been kidnapped by the Red
Brigades.
1986 - The U.S. space shuttle Challenger exploded just after takeoff.
All seven of its crewmembers were killed.
1994 - In Los Angeles, Superior Court Judge Stanley Weisberg declared a
mistrial in the case of Lyle Menendez in the murder of his parents.
Lyle, and his brother Erik, were both retried later and were found
guilty. They were sentenced to life in prison without parole.
1998 - In Manilla, Philippines, gunmen held at least 400 children and
teachers for several hours at an elementary school.
1999 - Ford Motor Company announced the purchase of Sweden's Volvo AB
for $6.45 billion.
2002 - Toys R Us Inc. announced that it would be closing 27 Toys R Us
stores and 37 Kids R Us stores in order to cut costs and boost operating
profits.
Trading Halted on Egyptian Stock Exchange After the Market Plunges 6.25%
in 15 Minutes
Trading halted on Egyptian stock exchange after the market plunges 6.25
percent in 15 minutes.

China's New World Order
By all appearances, last week's visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao to
Washington changed little in the lopsided American-Chinese relationship.
What we have is a system that methodically transfers American jobs,
technology and financial power to China in return for only modest
Chinese support for important U.S. geopolitical goals: the suppression
of Iran's and North Korea's nuclear weapons programs.

Federal Reserve Openly Aiming for Inflation
The Federal Reserve has painted itself into a very narrow and troubling
corner for most of working and middle class America. The massive debt
problems on hand have no realistic way of being paid off and the best
path in the eyes of the Federal Reserve is to slowly inflate away the
currency and debt.

Today In
History Thursday January 27, 2011
1870 - Kappa Alpha Theta, the first women’s sorority, was founded at
Indiana Asbury University (now DePauw University) in Greencastle, IN.
1880 - Thomas Edison patented the electric incandescent lamp.
1888 - The National Geographic Society was founded in Washington, DC.
1926 - John Baird, a Scottish inventor, demonstrated a pictorial
transmission machine called television.
1927 - United Independent Broadcasters Inc. started a radio network with
contracts with 16 stations. The company later became Columbia
Broadcasting System (CBS).
1943 - During World War II, the first all American air raid against
Germany took place when about 50 bombers attacked Wilhlemshaven.
1944 - The Soviet Union announced that the two year German siege of
Leningrad had come to an end.
1945 - Soviet troops liberated the Nazi concentration camps Auschwitz
and Birkenau in Poland.
1948 - Wire Recording Corporation of America announced the first
magnetic tape recorder. The ‘Wireway’ machine with a built-in oscillator
sold for $149.50.
1951 - In the U.S., atomic testing in the Nevada desert began as an Air
Force plane dropped a one-kiloton bomb on Frenchman Flats.
1967 - At Cape Kennedy, FL, astronauts Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom, Edward
H. White and Roger B. Chaffee died in a flash fire during a test aboard
their Apollo I spacecraft.
1967 - More than 60 nations signed the Outer Space Treaty which banned
the orbiting of nuclear weapons and placing weapons on celestial bodies
or space stations.
1973 - The Vietnam peace accords were signed in Paris.
1977 - The Vatican reaffirmed the Roman Catholic Church's ban on female
priests.
1981 - U.S. President Reagan greeted the 52 former American hostages
released by Iran at the White House.
1985 - The Coca-Cola Company, of Atlanta, GA, announced a plan to sell
its soft drinks in the Soviet Union.
1992 - Former world boxing champion Mike Tyson went on trial for
allegedly raping an 18-year-old contestant in the 1991 Miss Black
America Contest.
1997 - It was revealed that French national museums were holding nearly
2,000 works of art stolen from Jews by the Nazis during World War II.
1998 - U.S. First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton appeared on NBC's "Today"
show. She charged that the allegations against her husband were the work
of a "vast right-wing conspiracy."
1999 - The U.S. Senate blocked dismissal of the impeachment case against
President Clinton and voted for new testimony from Monica Lewinsky and
two other witnesses.
2002 - A series of explosions occurred at a military dump in Lagos,
Nigeria. More than 1,000 people were killed in the blast and in the
attempt to escape.
2003 - Altria Group, Inc. became the name of the parent company of Kraft
Foods, Philip Morris USA, Philip Morris International and Philip Morris
Capital Corporation.
2010 - Apple unveiled the "iPad".

FAA warns of ongoing GPS issues in southeastern US due to Defense
Department 'tests'
Don't panic, but anyone planning on using GPS in the southeastern US for
the next month or so will likely want to make sure they have a fallback
option. That's according to a flight advisory just issued by the FAA,
which warns pilots that their GPS signal "may be unreliable or
unavailable" due to "GPS tests" that the Department of Defense will be
conducting between January 20th and February 22nd.

Rep. Kucinich sues over olive pit in sandwich
Democratic congressman Dennis Kucinich of Ohio has sued a congressional
cafeteria for dental damage he says he suffered after biting into an
olive pit in a sandwich wrap he bought there.

Swiss police: blast at Davos hotel, no injuries
A small blast shattered two windows but caused no injuries at a hotel
near where top business and political leaders are attending the World
Economic Forum, Swiss police said Thursday. The explosion happened in a
storage room of the Posthotel Morosani shortly after 9 a.m. local time
(0800 GMT) Thursday, regional police spokesman Thomas Hobi told the AP.
He said federal prosecutors are investigating whether the blast has a
criminal origin.

But But But Deficits Were Coming Down!
For the federal government, the sharply lower revenues and elevated
spending deriving from the financial turmoil and severe drop in economic
activity—combined with the costs of various policies implemented in
response to those conditions and an imbalance between revenues and
spending that predated the recession—have caused budget deficits to
surge in the past two years.

Google Comes Under Fire for 'Secret' Relationship With USA
Consumer Watchdog, an advocacy group largely focused in recent years on
Google's privacy practices, has called on a congressional investigation
into the Internet giant's "cozy" relationship with U.S. President Barack
Obama's administration.

The Global
Fund and UNCP Under Investigation for Missing Millions
Against an ambiance of somber music with a few upbeat notes suggestive
of hope, Bono appears on our flat-screen TVs and softly intones,
“Through the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, over
three-and-a-half thousand lives are saved every day.

Obama's Plan Would Cost Another $20 Billion
President Obama's agenda spelled out in his well-received State of the
Union address would boost spending an additional $20 billion and lead to
higher taxes, according to a line-by-line analysis from the National
Taxpayers Union Foundation. [See photos of the Obamas behind the
scenes.]

CBO: This Year's Budget Deficit to Hit $1.5T
A continuing weak economy and last month's bipartisan tax cut
legislation will drive the government's deficit to a record $1.5
trillion this year, a new government estimate predicts.

Here Comes the Sun a Little Early
Last week I was knocked off my chair with the report from the Arctic
Circle in Greenland that the sun came back over the horizon two days
early.

FEMA Advising Australia Amid Takeover of America?
Theories as to whether or not all this information has been released on
purpose in order to scare the public have become all the more credible
after the astonishing admissions of FEMA camps on cable TV.

Today In
History Wednesday January 26, 2011
1788 - The first European settlers in Australia, led by Captain Arthur
Phillip, landed in what became known as Sydney. This day is celebrated as
Australia Day.
1802 - The U.S. Congress passed an act calling for a library to be
established within the U.S. Capitol.
1837 - Michigan became the 26th state to join the United States.
1861 - In the U.S., Louisiana seceded from the Union.
1870 - The state of Virginia rejoined the Union.
1875 - George F. Green patented the electric dental drill for sawing,
filing, dressing and polishing teeth.
1911 - Inventor Glenn H. Curtiss flew the first successful seaplane.
1934 - The Apollo Theatre opened in New York City.
1939 - In the Spanish Civil War, Franco's forces, with Italian aid, took
Barcelona.
1942 - The first American expeditionary force to go to Europe during
World War II went ashore in Northern Ireland.
1950 - India officially proclaimed itself a republic as Rajendra Prasad
took the oath of office as president.
1950 - The American Associated Insurance Companies, of St. Louis, MO,
issued the first baby sitter’s insurance policy.
1961 - U.S. President John F. Kennedy appointed Dr. Janet G. Travell as
the first woman to be the "personal physician to the President".
1962 - The U.S. launched Ranger 3 to land scientific instruments on the
moon. The probe missed its target by about 22,000 miles.
1965 - Hindi was made the official language of India.
1969 - California was declared a disaster area two days of flooding and
mudslides.
1992 - Russian president Boris Yeltsin announced that his country would
stop targeting U.S. cities with nuclear weapons.
1993 - Former Czechoslovak President Vaclav Havel was elected president
of the new Czech Republic.
1994 - In Sydney, Australia, a young man lunged at and fired two blank
shots at Britain's Prince Charles.
1996 - U.S. First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton testified before a grand
jury concerning the Whitewater probe.
1998 - U.S. President Clinton denied having an affair with a former
White House intern, saying "I did not have sexual relations with that
woman, Miss Lewinsky."
1999 - Saddam Hussein vowed revenge against the U.S. in response to
air-strikes that reportedly killed civilians. The strikes were U.S.
planes defending themselves against anti-aircraft fire.
2001 - Near Ciudad Boliva, Venezuela, twenty four people were killed
when a 50-year-old DC-3 crashed.
2009 - The first trial at the International Criminal Court was held.
Former Union of Congolese Patriots leader Thomas Lubanga was accused of
training child soldiers to kill, pillage, and rape.
2009 - The Icelandic government and banking system collapsed. Prime
Minister Geir Haarde resigned.
2010 - It was announced that James Cameron's movie "Avatar" had become
the highest-grossing film worldwide. At the time it was the second
highest-grossing film in the United States.

The 10 Leading Theories for Dead Birds and Fish
Puzzled by the mass deaths of birds and fish in Alabama? It's also
happening elsewhere, across the Eastern and Southern U.S. and around the
world -- Gizmodo has a handy map of all the U.S. events.

Will America go broke?
The government would have to stop issuing debt to fund its day-to-day
operations. If it does not have sufficient cash on hand from other
sources, such as tax receipts, it would have to curtail some activities,
including closing government offices. The government may have to halt
payments of federal benefits, such as Social Security or Medicare, or
default by halting interest payments on treasury debt.

Justice Department Seeks Mandatory Data Retention
Criminal investigations "are being frustrated" because no law currently
exists to force Internet providers to keep track of what their customers
are doing, the U.S. Department of Justice will announce tomorrow.

Rep. Ryan Is Republican Point Man
When Rep. Paul Ryan delivers the Republican response to President Barack
Obama's State of the Union address Tuesday, many viewers will get their
first look at a man whom GOP leaders are trusting to manage a central
policy issue—how to cut the federal budget—that could shape the party's
image for years.

W.H: 'Birthers aren't rational'
Gibbs hinted that President Obama will talk about gun rights in his
State of the Union address. “I don’t doubt that, as a result of the
impact – or the issues of what happened in Tucson, that there will be a
number of proposals that this White House and the Congress will
evaluate, and we'll wait until tomorrow to see what’s in the State of
the Union,” he said.

Food
Crisis II
A story I’ve been warning about for years is making sensational
headlines right now.

Hawaii Official Now Swears: No Obama Birth Certificate
Former Hawaii elections clerk Tim Adams has now signed an affidavit
swearing he was told by his supervisors in Hawaii that no long-form,
hospital-generated birth certificate existed for Barack Obama Jr. in
Hawaii and that neither Queens Medical Center nor Kapi'olani Medical
Center in Honolulu had any record of Obama having been born in their
medical facilities.

The Doomsday Project, Deep Events, and the Shrinking of American
Democracy
I know the capacity that is there to make tyranny total in America, and
we must see to it that this agency [the National Security Agency] and
all agencies that possess this technology operate within the law and
under proper supervision, so that we never cross over that abyss. That
is the abyss from which there is no return."-

Antioxidants Offer Natural Help for Men Who Are Infertile
The multi-million dollar infertility industry offers a huge list of
expensive -- and often invasive -- tests and procedures to help couples
who have difficulty conceiving, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and
intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Today In
History Tuesday January 25, 2011
1799 - Eliakim Spooner patented the seeding machine.
1870 - G.D. Dows patented the ornamental soda fountain.
1881 - Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell and others signed an
agreement to organize the Oriental Telephone Company.
1890 - The United Mine Workers of America was founded.
1915 - In New York, Alexander Graham Bell spoke to his assistant in San
Francisco, inaugurating the first transcontinental telephone service.
1924 - The 1st Winter Olympic Games were inaugurated in Chamonix in the
French Alps.
1949 - The first Emmys were presented at the Hollywood Athletic Club.
1961 - John F. Kennedy presented the first live presidential news
conference from Washington, DC. The event was carried on radio and
television.
1971 - Charles Manson and three female members of his "family" were
found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit murder and seven
counts of murder in the first degree. They were all sentenced to death
for the 1969 killings. The sentences were later commuted to life
sentences.
1981 - The 52 Americans held hostage by Iran for 444 days arrived in the
United States and were reunited with their families.
1993 - A gunman shot and killed two CIA employees outside the agencies
headquarters in Virginia. Mir Aimal Kansi, a Pakistani national, was
later convicted of the shootings.
1995 - The defense gave its opening statement in the O.J. Simpson trial.
1999 - At least 1,000 people were killed when an earthquake hit western
Columbia. The quake registered 6.0 on the Richter Scale.
1999 - In Louisville, KY, man received the first hand transplant in the
United States.
2001 - A minor earthquake hit northeastern Ohio. The quake measured only
4.2 on the Richter Scale.
2010 - In Arlington, TX, the International Bowling Museum and Hall of
Fame had its grand opening.

Food Freedom
Betrayal!
Our food supply is in jeopardy. Not only from outside forces such as
poisons from China, but from within.

US Farmers Called to "Plant Every Acre They Can This Spring"
Grain production shortages around the world and high grain prices are
calling for American farmers to plant every acre they can this spring,
the Wall Street Journal reported.Farmers will need to sow an additional
10 million acres to boost supplies of several crops. Supplies are
expected to drop to 15-year lows for corn and more than 40-year lows for
soybeans, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Court takes Rahm Emanuel's name off ballot
An attorney says an Illinois Appeals Court has ruled that Rahm Emanuel's
name can't appear on the ballot for Chicago mayor. Attorney Burt Odelson
said Monday that the court voted 2-1 to overturn a judge's ruling to
keep Emanuel's name on the ballot. Those challenging Emanuel have said
the White House chief of staff did not meet a residency requirement
because he lived in Washington and not Chicago when he worked for
President Barack Obama. Emanuel has said he always intended to return to
Chicago and was only living in Washington at the request of the
president.Related Article:
Appellate Court Rules Again Emanuel

ObamaCare Flatlines: ObamaCare Taxes Home Sales - Clobbers Middle-Class
Americans
Beginning January 1, 2013, ObamaCare imposes a 3.8% Medicare tax on
unearned income, including the sale of single family homes, townhouses,
co-ops, condominiums, and even rental income. This new ObamaCare tax is
the first time the government will apply a 3.8 percent tax on unearned
income. This new tax on home sales and unearned income and other
Medicare taxes raise taxes more than $210 billion to pay for ObamaCare.

Only 43% of Working Age Americans Have Full Time Jobs
The total non institutional civilian labor force (Americans 16 years and
older who are not in a institution -criminal, mental, or other types of
facilities- or an active military duty) is reported as 238.889 million.
Of these, we see:

At&T Asks Top Court to Recognize Its 'Personal Privacy'
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments today on a case between AT&T and
the Federal Communications Commission, revisiting the legal concept of
“corporate personhood” last strengthened under the court’s Citizens
United ruling on corporate campaign spending.

Bye Bye Blackbird: USDA Acknowledges a Hand in One Mass Bird Death
It's not the "aflockalyptic" fallout from a secret US weapon lab as some
have theorized. But the government acknowledged Thursday that it had a
hand in one of a string of mysterious mass bird deaths that have spooked
residents in Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, South Dakota, and Kentucky in
the last month.

2012 - Are American Voter's Being Scammed?
“Are Americans to assume that neither the Republicans nor Democrats have
any plans to address the issues of a sensible legal immigration system,
ending illegal immigration, enforcement of our immigration laws and
border security?”

China Might Revalue Its Currency This Year
WASHINGTON – China could act on revaluing its currency over the course
of the year, without admitting defeat in their battle with the
international community over its value, former US secretary of state
Henry Kissinger said Sunday.

Shooting At Washington Walmart
Two people are dead, including the gunman after a shooting incident
Sunday at a Walmart in Kitsap County, Wash. A young woman who died is
believed to have known the gunman.

Officers Killed in St. Petersburg
Two police officers were fatally shot while executing a search warrant
at a home in the 3700 block of 28th Avenue South in St. Petersburg this
morning. A U.S. Marshal involved in the operation was also shot and is
in stable condition.

Global Price Fears Mount
Inflation fears—fueled by spiraling food, oil and raw material
prices—are mounting around the globe, prompting the head of the European
Central Bank to signal that it could raise interest rates in the future
even though some countries have been weakened by the Continent's debt
crisis.

Today In
History Monday January 24, 2011
1848 - James W. Marshall discovered a gold nugget at Sutter's Mill in
northern California. The discovery led to the gold rush of '49.
1908 - In England, the first Boy Scout troop was organized by Robert
Baden-Powell.
1922 - Christian K. Nelson patented the Eskimo Pie.
1924 - The Russian city of St. Petersburg was renamed Leningrad. The
name has since been changed back to St. Petersburg.
1935 - Krueger Brewing Company placed the first canned beer on sale in
Richmond, VA.
1943 - U.S. President Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Churchill
concluded a wartime conference in Casablanca, Morocco.
1952 - Vincent Massey was the first Canadian to be appointed
governor-general of Canada.
1965 - Winston Churchill died at the age of 90.
1972 - The U.S. Supreme Court struck down laws that denied welfare
benefits to people who had resided in a state for less than a year.
1978 - A nuclear-powered Soviet satellite plunged through Earth's
atmosphere and disintegrated. The radioactive debris was scattered over
parts of Canada's Northwest Territory.
1980 - The United States announced intentions to sell arms to China.
1985 - Penny Harrington became the first woman police chief of a major
city. She assumed the duties as head of the Portland, Oregon, force of
940 officers and staff.
1986 - The Voyager 2 space probe flew past Uranus. The probe came within
50,679 miles of the seventh planet of the solar system.
1989 - Ted Bundy, the confessed serial killer, was put to death in
Florida's electric chair for the 1978 kidnap-murder of 12-year-old
Kimberly Leach.
1990 - Japan launched the first probe to be sent to the Moon since 1976.
A small satellite was placed in lunar orbit.
1995 - The prosecution gave its opening statement at the O.J. Simpson
murder trial.
2000 - The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a Missouri law that limited the
contributions that individuals could donate to a candidate during a
single election.
2002 - The U.S. Congress began a hearing on the collapse of Enron Corp.
2002 - John Walker Lindh appeared in court for the first time concerning
the charges that he conspired to kill Americans abroad and aided
terrorist groups. Lindh had been taken
into custody by U.S. Marines in Afghanistan.
2003 - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security began operations under
Tom Ridge.

Treasury Says Anything But a Debt Ceiling Hike Would Lead to Default
Which, however is certainly not a good thing, as it merely confirms just
how totally screwed this country is, and that absent a hike in the
ceiling to $15.5 trillion (which we believe is where the debt ceiling
will be through March of 2012 when it will be raised to $17 trillion),
the dollar will be backed by several trillion in insolvent Federal
Reserve Notes, er, assets (that should quickly end all debate about
EUR-USD parity).

Russia to Adopt Universal ID Card in 2012
For all those conspiracy theorists out there, 2012 just got a little
more ominous. As required by legislation passed this last summer, Russia
will adopt a universal ID card starting next year.

Obama Goal: 'Putting the Economy Into Over Drive'
More than half the nation disapproves of President Barack Obama's
policies to reduce stubbornly high unemployment, a new Associated Press-GfK
poll said Friday as Obama refocused his job-creation efforts on a
business-friendly vision emphasizing innovation and exports to other
countries.

Food Stamps as a JPMorgan Growth Industry
JP Morgan is the largest processor of food stamp benefits in the United
States. JP Morgan has contracted to provide food stamp debit cards in 26
U.S. states and the District of Columbia.

Obama Says Paul Volcker Stepping Down As Adviser
President Barack Obama announced Thursday that former Federal Reserve
Chairman Paul Volcker was stepping down from his role as head of an
outside panel advising the White House on economic policy.

BP's Spilled Oil Is Washing Up In People
Though the gushing well was capped last July, oil continues to wash
ashore along the Gulf Coast. BP's oil is also washing up in people's
bodies, raising concerns about long-term health effects.

Federal Agency To Spearhead New Drug-Development Center
The Obama administration has become so concerned about the slowing pace
of new drugs coming out of the pharmaceutical industry that officials
have decided to start a billion-dollar government drug development
center to help create medicines.

Hawaii Law Bars Release of Obama Birth Info
A privacy law that shields birth certificates has prompted Democratic
Gov. Neil Abercrombie to abandon efforts to dispel claims that President
Barack Obama was born outside Hawaii, his office says.

Violent Seismic Activity Tearing Africa in Two
The fissures began appearing years ago. But in recent months, seismic
activity has accelerated in northeastern Africa as the continent breaks
apart in slow motion. Researchers say that lava in the region is
consistent with magma normally seen on the sea floor -- and that water
will ultimately cover the desert.

China Bank Moves to Buy US Branches
CHICAGO—China’s biggest bank signed an agreement that would make it the
first Beijing-controlled financial institution to acquire retail bank
branches in the U.S., though regulators could still block the deal.

Iranian
Warships Coming to Mediterranean and Red Seas
Less than 24 hours after the breakdown of its nuclear dialogue with the
six world powers in Istanbul, Iran announced plans Sunday, Jan. 23, to
senda fleet of warships, including a home-made destroyer, on operational
and intelligence-gathering missions to the Red Sea and on to the
Mediterranean through the Suez Canal.

US Supreme Court Issues Landmark Decision - Constitution Void
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark decision that serves to allow
judges to void the Constitution in their courtrooms. The decision was
issued on January 18, 2011, and the Court did not even explain the
decision (Docket No. 10-632, 10-633, and 10-690). One word decisions:
DENIED.

Obama Manufacturing Public About US Dollar and Yuan
President Obama’s comments on Wednesday in a joint press conference with
Chinese President Hu Jintao, misinformed the public about potential
changes in foreign exchange rates and their effects on U.S. citizens.

Pesticides Give Rise to Mutant Bed Bugs
Bedbugs are coming back with a vengeance, and a new study out of Ohio
State University says that pesticides and insecticides are at least
jointly responsible for spawning a new breed of mutant bedbugs that is
genetically-resistant to the very chemicals commonly used to eradicate
it..

Avocado Fat Boosts Good Cholesterol
The types of fat found in avocados and in olive oil boost levels of HDL
("good") cholesterol without raising levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol,
according to a study conducted by researchers from the University of
Toronto and St. Michael's Hospital in Ontario, Canada, and published in
the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Flu Vaccine Causing Infant Seizures; FDA to Investigate
The Sanofi-Aventis flu vaccine known as "Fluzone" is causing febrile
seizures in children, the FDA revealed yesterday. According to the FDA,
42 cases of seizures have been reported in children receiving the
Fluzone vaccine. Most of the children suffering seizures are under the
age of two.

Today In
History Friday January 21, 2011
1793 - During the French Revolution, King Louis XVI was executed on the
guillotine. He had been condemned for treason.
1846 - The first issue of the "Daily News," edited by Charles Dickens,
was published.
1853 - Dr. Russell L. Hawes patented the envelope folding machine.
1861 - The future president of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis of
Mississippi, resigned from the U.S. Senate. Four other Southerners also
resigned.
1865 - An oil well was drilled by torpedoes for the first time.
1900 - Canadian troops set sail to fight in South Africa. The Boers had
attacked Ladysmith on January 8, 1900.
1908 - The Sullivan Ordinance was passed in New York City making smoking
by women illegal. The measure was vetoed by Mayor George B. McClellan
Jr.
1915 - The first Kiwanis club was formed in Detroit, MI.
1924 - Soviet leader Vladimir Llyich Lenin died. Joseph Stalin began a
purge of his rivals for the leadership of the Soviet Union.
1927 - The first opera broadcast over a national radio network was
presented in Chicago, IL. The opera was "Faust".
1954 - The gas turbine automobile was introduced in New York City.
1970 - The Boeing 747 made its first commercial flight from New York to
London for Pan American.
1970 - ABC-TV presented "The Johnny Cash Show" in prime time.
1976 - The French Concorde SST aircraft began regular commercial service
for Air France and British Airways.
1977 - U.S. President Carter pardoned almost all Vietnam War draft
evaders.
1980 - Gold was valued at $850 an ounce.
1994 - A jury in Manassas, VA, acquitted Lorena Bobbitt by reason of
temporary insanity of maliciously wounding (severing his penis) her
husband John.
1997 - Newt Gingrich was fined as the U.S. House of Representatives
voted for first time in history to discipline its leader for ethical
misconduct.
1998 - A former White House intern said on tape that she had an affair
with U.S. President Clinton.
1999 - The U.S. Coast Guard intercepted a ship headed for Houston, TX,
that had over 9,500 pounds of cocaine aboard. It was one of the largest
drug busts in U.S. history.
2002 - In London, a 17th century book by Capt. John Smith, founder of
the English settlement at Jamestown, was sold at auction for $48,800.
"The General History of Virginia, New England and the Summer Isles" was
published in 1632.
2003 - It was announced by the U.S. Census Bureau that estimates showed
that the Hispanic population had passed the black population for the
first time.

Statins: the drug firms' goldmine
Cholesterol-lowering statins are amongst the biggest-selling medicines
in the world, generating billions in revenue for pharmaceutical
companies.

10,000 cattle in Vietnam mysteriously die from cold weather
Thousands of cattle recently turned up dead in various Vietnamese
provinces, reportedly due to the long cold spell that has hit the area
in recent weeks. Officials from the Veterinary Department of the
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) had allegedly been
working with local cities and provinces to help keep animals fed and
warm once reports emerged of them dying, but such efforts largely failed
as thousands more continued to die across the country.

Gold Prices Slammed by Rate Hike Worries
-- Rate hike worries were pressuring gold prices Thursday as Brazil led
the charge to control inflation. The selloff was accelerated by solid
economic data from the U.S. and technical trading.

Path Is Sought for States to Escape Debt Burdens
Policy makers are working behind the scenes to come up with a way to let
states declare bankruptcy and get out from under crushing debts,
including the pensions they have promised to retired public workers.

The Fourth American Revolution
Turnings are not about specific events, but how generations react to the
events based on their stages of life. A turning is an era with a
characteristic social mood, a new twist on how people feel about
themselves and their nation.

Yet Another Attempt To Bury Fraud
Bair, who has pushed lenders and loan servicers to extend help to
homeowners who have fallen behind on their mortgages, urged creation of
a panel modeled on those formed to distribute money to victims of BP
Plc’s oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico last year and the Sept. 11
terrorist attacks of 2001.

House Votes To Repeal Health-Care Law
In the first major act of the new Congress, the Republican-led House
voted Wednesday to repeal the Democrats' health-care overhaul,
fulfilling a pledge that GOP candidates made during the fall midterm
campaigns.

FBI Rounds Up 100 Mobsters in Biggest NY Mafia Bust Ever
The FBI calls it the biggest mafia round-up in New York history. More
than 100 suspected mobsters were arrested this morning in connection
with numerous federal investigations into New York area mob groups as
first reported on NBCNewYork.com.

Hu Says
China Not a Military Threat to Any Nation
Chinese President Hu Jintao sought to assure U.S. business leaders on
Thursday that his country is an economic partner and not a military
threat to America or anyone else. But he rejected foreign interference
on issues such as Tibet and Taiwan.

Over One Million Immigrants Land US Jobs in 2008-10
Over the past two years, as U.S. unemployment remained near double-digit
levels and the economy shed jobs in the wake of the financial crisis,
over a million foreign-born arrivals to America found work, many
illegally.

House GOP Lists $2.5 Trillion in Spending Cuts
Moving aggressively to make good on election promises to slash the
federal budget, the House GOP today unveiled an eye-popping plan to
eliminate $2.5 trillion in spending over the next 10 years.

Japan Hits 'Critical Point' On State Debt
Japan has hit a “critical point” where it risks losing investor
confidence if politicians fail to reach agreement on how to rein in the
ballooning national debt, a cabinet minister has warned.

Global Food Chain Stretched to the Limit
Strained by rising demand and battered by bad weather, the global food
supply chain is stretched to the limit, sending prices soaring and
sparking concerns about a repeat of food riots last seen three years
ago.

Spike in World Food Prices: It's More Than Bad Weather
Of all the world headlines that Sen. Richard Lugar could have
highlighted this week – the visit of China’s president in Washington,
for instance, or the revolt in Arab Tunisia – the most burning issue for
him was ... alfalfa.

Today In
History Thursday January 20, 2011
1801 - John Marshall was appointed chief justice of the United States.
1839 - Chile defeated a confederation of Peru and Bolivia in the Battle
of Yungay.
1841 - The island of Hong Kong was ceded to Great Britain. It returned
to Chinese control in July 1997.
1885 - The roller coaster was patented by L.A. Thompson.
1886 - The Mersey Railway Tunnel was officially opened by the Prince of
Wales.
1887 - The U.S. Senate approved an agreement to lease Pearl Harbor in
Hawaii as a naval base.
1891 - James Hogg took office as the first native-born governor of
Texas.
1892 - The first official basketball game was played by students at the
Springfield, MA, YMCA Training School.
1929 - The movie "In Old Arizona" was released. The film was the first
full-length talking film to be filmed outdoors.
1937 - Franklin Delano Roosevelt became the first U.S. President to be
inaugurated on January 20th. The 20th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution
officially
set the date for the
swearing in of the President and Vice President.
1942 - Nazi officials held the Wannsee conference, during which they
arrived at their "final solution" that called for exterminating Europe's
Jews.
1944 - The British RAF dropped 2,300 tons of bombs on Berlin.
1961 - Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller were divorced. They were married
on June 29, 1956.
1972 - The number of unemployed in Britain exceeded 1 million.
1981 - Iran released 52 Americans that had been held hostage for 444
days. The hostages were flown to Algeria and then to a U.S. base in
Wiesbaden,
West Germany. The release
occurred minutes after the U.S. presidency had passed from Jimmy Carter
to Ronald Reagan.
1986 - The U.S. observed the first federal holiday in honor of slain
civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
1986 - Britain and France announced their plans to build the Channel
Tunnel.
1987 - Anglican Church envoy Terry Waite was kidnapped in Beirut,
Lebanon. He was there attempting to negotiate the release of Western
hostages. He
was not freed until
November 1991.
1994 - Shannon Faulkner became the first woman to attend classes at The
Citadel in South Carolina. Faulkner joined the cadet corps in August
1995 under
court order but soon
dropped out.
1996 - Yasser Arafat was elected president of the Palestinian Authority
and his supporters won two thirds of the 80 seats in the Legislative
Council.
1997 - Bill Clinton was inaugurated for his second term as president of
the United States.
1998 - American researchers announced that they had cloned calves that
may produce medicinal milk.
1999 - The China News Service announced that the Chinese government was
tightening restrictions on internet use. The rules were aimed at
'Internet Bars.'
2000 - Greece and Turkey signed five accords aimed to build confidence
between the two nations.

Chase Bank apologizes for overcharging troops for mortgages
JPMorgan Chase & Co. is repaying more than $2 million to about 4,000
military families who were overcharged for their mortgages. The
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act caps service members’ interest payments
at 6 percent while they are on active duty, according to Military One
Source. The bank also improperly foreclosed on the properties of 14 of
the families. SCRA mandates that banks cannot arbitrarily foreclose on
property owned by active-duty military personnel or those in the first
nine months after leaving active duty.

The failure of derivatives regulation of precious metals
For any bank running unallocated bullion accounts on a fractional
reserve basis, markets that allow the public to buy gold and silver only
increase the price risk to its own position. The temptation to use these
markets to manipulate prices downwards, or at least to try to stop them
rising is therefore very great, and this is exactly what has happened.

Doping Up the Troops
U.S. Central Command policy allows troops a 90- or 180-day supply of
highly addictive psychotropic drugs before they deploy to combat,
reports Nextgov.

Here Come the 'Unbanked'
The U.S. government has so many regulations that it should come as no
surprise that some work at cross purposes.

The Identity Ecosystem: Obama's Plan for Internet Control
The Obama Administration has yet to come up with a plan to end the wars
in Iraq and Afghanistan which are draining our economy, prevent the
continuing mortgage meltdown, get more Americans back to work, or do
away with pork-barrel spending and government corruption, to name just a
few of the overriding concerns plaguing our nation today.

'Reminiscent of Nazi Germany'
From a Dec. 6 Walmart press release, "Walmart is proud to be the first
national retailer to partner with Secretary Napolitano and the
Department of Homeland Security in the "If you see something, say
something" campaign. We urge our customers and associates to join us ...
."

Study Points to Windfall for Goldman Partners
Goldman Sachs executives have long been among the most richly paid on
Wall Street in the best of times. They are now poised to reap a windfall
that was sown in the dark days of the financial crisis in 2008.

David Rockerfeller Gets Welcomed in Chile
The video below shows an irate Chilean telling David Rockefeller and his
friend Augustin Edwards Eastman that they are not welcome in Chile, nor
is their "New World Order"

Obama Hosts Hu as World Powers Seek Common Ground
Touching on a key source of tension between the U.S. and China,
President Barack Obama greeted Chinese President Hu Jintao Wednesday by
stressing the need for nations to observe universal human rights.

Scientists Fight Bugs With Poo
Once a year, every year, Professor Thomas Borody receives a single-stem
rose from one of his most grateful patients. She is, he says, thanking
him for restoring her bowel flora.

China and US, Wary Powers, Set to Square Off
China's President Hu Jintao landed in Washington for a summit that will
help to define a new relationship between the world's longtime
superpower and its rising Asian rival, at a time when their bonds have
been frayed by mutual suspicions and an ideological gulf.

Petitions Lead to EPA Ban on Toxic Sulfuryl Fluoride
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has granted a petition
filed by the Fluoride Action Network (FAN), the Environmental Working
Group (EWG) and Beyond Pesticides, to stop the commercial use of
sulfuryl fluoride in food.

Today In
History Wednesday January 19, 2011
1793 - King Louis XVI was tried by the French Convention, found guilty
of treason and sentenced to the guillotine.
1825 - Ezra Daggett and Thomas Kensett of New York City patented a
canning process to preserve salmon, oysters and lobsters.
1861 - Georgia seceded from the Union.
1883 - Thomas Edison's first village electric lighting system using
overhead wires began operation in Roselle, NJ.
1907 - The first film reviews appeared in "Variety" magazine.
1915 - George Claude, of Paris, France, patented the neon discharge tube
for use in advertising signs.
1915 - More than 20 people were killed when German zeppelins bombed
England for the first time. The bombs were dropped on Great Yarmouth and
King's Lynn.
1937 - Howard Hughes set a transcontinental air record. He flew from Los
Angeles to New York City in 7 hours, 28 minutes and 25 seconds.
1942 - The Japanese invaded Burma (later Myanmar).
1944 - The U.S. federal government relinquished control of the nation's
railroads after the settlement of a wage dispute.
1949 - The salary of the President of the United States was increased
from $75,000 to $100,000 with an additional $50,000 expense allowance
for each year in office.
1955 - U.S. President Eisenhower allowed a filmed news conference to be
used on television (and in movie newsreels) for the first time.
1977 - U.S. President Ford pardoned Iva Toguri D'Aquino (the "Tokyo
Rose").
1979 - Former U.S. Attorney General John N. Mitchell was released on
parole after serving 19 months at a federal prison in Alabama.
1981 - The U.S. and Iran signed an agreement paving the way for the
release of 52 Americans held hostage for more than 14 months and for
arrangements to unfreeze Iranian assets and to resolve all claims
against Iran.
1993 - IBM announced a loss of $4.97 billion for 1992. It was the
largest single-year loss in U.S. corporate history.
1996 - U.S. first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton was subpoenaed to appear
before a federal grand jury. The investigation was concerning the
discovery of billing records related to the Whitewater real estate
investment venture.
1997 - Yasser Arafat returned to Hebron for the first time in more than
30 years. He joined 60,000 Palestinians in celebration over the handover
of the last West Bank city in Israeli control.
2001 - Texas officials demoted a warden and suspended three other prison
workers in the wake of the escape of the "Texas 7."

Tossing the Consumer Under the Bus
Perhaps the simplest way to look at it is this: 55%-65% of our income
goes to taxes and fees, we work 8.5 months of the year to pay for this
insane mess. The consumer has then 3.5 months of income with circa 1970s
wages to consume.

China: The new landlord of the U.S.
China is the largest foreign holder of U.S. debt. Despite this fact,
many politicians are talking tough (perhaps tougher than they should be)
about China's artificially low currency and how that affects trade
relations between the two world powers.

End of Euro? Ireland Prints Own Notes
Emergency lending from the ECB to banks in Ireland fell in December, the
first decline since January 2010, but only because the Irish Central
Bank stepped up its help to banks.

Obama May Cut Social Security, Sen Sanders Tells Raw
Social Security may be on the White House chopping block, a US Senator
recently told Raw Story, expressing deep uneasiness about President
Barack Obama's noncommittal attitude toward staving off cuts to the
cherished program.

'Explosive'
Food Prices the Biggest Risk
Overheating emerging markets, in China in particular, pose the biggest
threat to the market and political situation in 2011 according to
Philippe Gijsels, head of research at BNP Paribas Fortis Global Markets.

November TIC Data Update: China Reasury Holdings Decline By $11.2
Billion
As we get Treasury International Capital data for one more (delayed)
month, we realize just why QE will be a part of our financial landscape
for a long time. In November, the formerly largest US credit (before it
was overtaken by the Fed), lowered its Treasury holdings by $11.2
billion from $906.8 billion to $895.6 billion.

JP Morgan Chase Says It Charged Military Families Too Much On Mortgages
NEW YORK - One of the nation's biggest banks, JP Morgan Chase, admits it
has overcharged several thousand military families for their mortgages,
including families of troops fighting in Afghanistan. The bank also says
it improperly foreclosed on more than a dozen homes belonging to
military families.

Lawmaker's New Proposal Would Hit Feds With Charges
The state of Montana, which came up with the idea that the guns made,
sold and kept inside its borders simply are exempt from federal
regulations and made that its law, now is considering a new weapon that
could be used to cancel much of the authority of federal agents over its
residents.

Disinformation Fog Intensifies As Economic Turmoil Develops
In the past few years, the concept of economic globalism has revealed
itself as quite the Trojan horse; once posing as the next step in the
evolution of “free market” capitalism and the savior of third world
nations striving for development status, now revealed as a fiscal plague
spreading delirium and destruction wherever it touches ground.

US
Sick Gulf Residents Beg Officials For Help
NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana, Jan 14, 2011 (IPS) - In an emotionally charged
meeting this week sponsored by the National Commission on the BP
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, fishermen, Gulf residents and community
leaders vented their increasingly grave concerns about the widespread
health issues brought on by the three-month-long disaster.

CU Student Pay $14L Tuition In $1 Bills
"I just have a newfound respect for what people are willing to give up
and how much education really does costs for just one semester. So I
wanted the school be able to see that," he said. "It gives me a much
deeper appreciation for the money that my parents give me just to go to
school."

Police Seize Guns After Los Alamos Standoff
High-powered weapons and ammunition were among the items seized from the
home of a former Los Alamos National Laboratory physicist who has become
increasingly paranoid and outspoken against the lab and the government.

Scientists Trying to Clone, Resurrect Extinct Mammoth
A team of scientists from Japan, Russia and the United States hopes to
clone a mammoth, a symbol of Earth’s ice age that ended 12,000 years
ago, according to a report in Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun. The researchers
say they hope to produce a baby mammoth within six years.

House Set to Launch Health Law Challenge
House Republicans, toning down their rhetoric slightly, plan to reset
the debate over the health law repeal Tuesday on Capitol Hill, building
a strictly economic case against "Obamacare" after pausing for a week
out of respect for the victims of the Tucson shooting.

Icy Commute, Canceled Flights Across Northeast
A mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain iced over roads, driveways and
sidewalks from Delaware up into New England on Tuesday — making for a
slippery and sometimes dangerous morning commute that also saw hundreds
of flight cancellations.r/

States Warned
of $2 Trillion Pensions Shortfall
US public pensions face a shortfall of $2,500 billion that will force
state and local governments to sell assets and make deep cuts to
services, according to the former chairman of New Jersey’s pension fund.

Devvy - Do Not Support Kucinich Fed Bill
The damnable lies that continue out of lazy, corrupt media mouthpieces
regarding the true state of the economy is nothing short of
reprehensible. We expect politicians to lie every time they open their
mouths.

California County Allows Marijuana, But Not Raw Milk
Humboldt County, Calif., is largely recognized as the marijuana capital
of the U.S. Its lax attitude towards both the legal and illegal growth
and sale of the controversial plant is unmatched, and has earned the
county quite a reputation.

Today In
History Tuesday January 18, 2011
1803 - Thomas Jefferson, in secret communication with Congress, sopught
authorization for the first official exploration by the U.S. government.
1778 - English navigator Captain James Cook discovered the Hawaiian
Islands, which he called the "Sandwich Islands."
1788 - The first English settlers arrived in Australia's Botany Bay to
establish a penal colony. The group moved north eight days later and
settled at Port Jackson.
1896 - The x-ray machine was exhibited for the first time.
1911 - For the first time an aircraft landed on a ship. Pilot Eugene B.
Ely flew onto the deck of the USS Pennsylvania in San Francisco harbor.
1919 - The World War I Peace Congress opened in Versailles, France.
1939 - Louis Armstrong and his orchestra recorded "Jeepers Creepers."
1943 - During World War II, the Soviets announced that they had broken
the Nazi siege of Leningrad, which had began in September of 1941.
1943 - U.S. commercial bakers stopped selling sliced bread. Only whole
loaves were sold during the ban until the end of World War II.
1950 - The federal tax on oleomargarine was repealed.
1957 - The first, non-stop, around-the-world, jet flight came to an end
at Riverside, CA. The plane was refueled in mid-flight by huge aerial
tankers.
1964 - The plans for the World Trade Center in New York were disclosed.
1967 - Albert DeSalvo, who claimed to be the "Boston Strangler," was
convicted in Cambridge, MA, of armed robbery, assault and sex offenses.
He was sentenced to life in prison. Desalvo was killed in 1973 by a
fellow inmate.
1987 - For the first time in history the Public Broadcasting System
(PBS) was seen by over 100 million viewers. The audience was measured
during the week of January 12-18,1987.
1990 - In an FBI sting, Washington, DC, Mayor Marion Barry was arrested
for drug possession. He was later convicted of a misdemeanor.
1991 - Eastern Airlines shut down after 62 years in business due to
financial problems.
1993 - The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday was observed in all 50 U.S.
states for the first time.
2002 - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the
approval of a saliva-based ovulation test.

Oops!
Obama's Mother's passport 'destroyed'
Responding to a Freedom of Information Act request, the State Department
has released passport records of Stanley Ann Dunham, President Obama's
mother – but records for the years surrounding Obama's 1961 birth are
missing. Read More...

The Internet ID: Do We Have Any Say?
It’s been called the "Trusted Internet ID" scheme by some observers. It
won’t matter what we choose to call the government’s proposed Internet
licensing system because in the end we probably won’t have a say in it.

Where did
that come from? U.S. failed to detect Chinese stealth fighter
U.S. intelligence apparently failed to figure out how quickly the
Chinese were developing their newest fifth generation J-20 stealth
fighter, which U.S. government analysts now say was based on critical
U.S. stealth technology transfers that happened while Bill Clinton was
president, according to a report from Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin.

Cyber-Attacks Could Cause Global 'Catastrophe'
A succession of multiple cyber-attacks could "become a full-scale global
shock" on a par with a pandemic and the collapse of the world financial
system, the report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development (OECD) said.

China's President Lays Groundwork for Obama Talks
BEIJING—Chinese President Hu Jintao emphasized the need for cooperation
with the U.S. in areas from new energy to space ahead of his visit to
Washington this week, but he called the present U.S. dollar-dominated
currency system a "product of the past" and highlighted moves to turn
the yuan into a global currency.

Congress Urged to Raise Debt Limit
The Congress must allow the country to borrow more to avoid a debt
default that would wreak havoc on financial markets and imperil the U.S.
economy, Democratic and Republican lawmakers said on Sunday.

'Baby Doc' Duvalier Back in Haiti After Long Exile
Former Haitian dictator Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier returned Sunday
to Haiti after nearly 25 years in exile, a surprising and perplexing
move that comes as his country struggles with a political crisis and the
stalled effort to recover from last year's devastating earthquake.

Swiss Find Signs of Illegal US Surveillance
Bern has found signs that the US embassy in Geneva has been conducting
illegal surveillance on Swiss territory, the justice ministry told AFP
Sunday, confirming local press reports.

Court Rules Government Can keep Naked Body Scanner Images Secret
A federal judge has ruled that the Department of Homeland Security can
keep images produced by x-ray body scanners out of the public domain, in
a blow to privacy group The Electronic Privacy Information Center’ s
(EPIC) efforts to release more than 2000 of the images that show
intimate details of airport travelers’ bodies.

US
Sick Gulf Residents Beg Officials for Help
NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana, Jan 14, 2011 (IPS) - In an emotionally charged
meeting this week sponsored by the National Commission on the BP
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, fishermen, Gulf residents and community
leaders vented their increasingly grave concerns about the widespread
health issues brought on by the three-month-long disaster.

'Explosive'
Food Prices the Biggest Risk
Overheating emerging markets, in China in particular, pose the biggest
threat to the market and political situation in 2011 according to
Philippe Gijsels, head of research at BNP Paribas Fortis Global Markets.

China
to Send Troops to N Korea
Citing an anonymous official at the presidential Blue House, the South
Korean Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported on Saturday that the troops “would
protect Chinese port facilities” in the Rason special economic zone near
the Sea of Japan (East Sea).

200 Dead Cows Found on Farm in Stockton
Deputies were dispatched to the town just after 1 p.m. on Friday after
they were notified of numerous dead cows lying in a field in the 8000
block of Fourth Avenue, according to a Portage County Sheriff's
Department news release.

Doom and Gloom
Have you noticed that most Americans seem to know far more about
American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, Justin Bieber and their favorite
sports teams than they do about world affairs?

Balkanization of America
A year ago the U.S. Bureau of the Census published a report which
revised previous estimates of the future population of the United
States.

How
Many Senators Does It Take to Screw a Taxpayer?
When bipartisanship breaks out in Washington DC, check to make sure your
wallet is still in your pocket. Every time you fill up your car this
winter you are participating in the biggest taxpayer swindle in history.

Feds Come Knocking for Home Inspections
A sanitation district in Pennsylvania has notified homeowners that its
representatives will be making personal visits to every structure served
by its network of drainpipes because that's what the federal
Environmental Protection Agency is demanding.

Drug Used for Male Pattern Baldness Makes Men Impotent, Grows Man Boobs
Here's a story that shows how the "cure" truly can be worse than the
disease. Specifically, it's a true life horror story of how a Big Pharma
drug prescribed frequently for totally benign conditions can produce
serious, life altering side effects in men -- including loss of their
sex drive, impotence, depression and even the growth of "man boobs".

Today In
History Monday January 17, 2011 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
1773 - Captain Cook's Resolution became the first ship to cross the
Antarctic Circle.
1806 - James Madison Randolph, grandson of U.S. President Thomas
Jefferson, was the first child born in the White House.
1871 - Andrew S. Hallidie received a patent for a cable car system.
1900 - The U.S. took Wake Island where there was in important cable link
between Hawaii and Manila.
1900 - Mormon Brigham Roberts was denied a seat in the U.S. House of
Representatives for his practicing of polygamy.
1905 - Punchboards were patented by a manufacturing firm in Chicago, IL.
1913 - All partner interests in 36 Golden Rule Stores were consolidated
and incorporated in Utah into one company. The new corporation was the
J.C. Penney Company.
1916 - The Professional Golfers Association was formed in New York City.
1928 - The fully automatic, film-developing machine was patented by A.M.
Josepho.
1934 - Ferdinand Porsche submitted a design for a people's car, a
"Volkswagen," to the new German Reich government.
1945 - Soviet and Polish forces liberated Warsaw during World War II.
1945 - Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg disappeared in Hungary while in
Soviet custody. Wallenberg was credited with saving tens of thousands of
Jews.
1946 - The United Nations Security Council held its first meeting.
1961 - In his farewell address, U.S. President Eisenhower warned against
the rise of "the military-industrial complex."
1966 - A B-52 carrying four H-bombs collided with a refueling tanker.
The bombs were released and eight crewmembers were killed.
1977 - Double murderer Gary Gilmore became the first to be executed in
the U.S. in a decade. The firing squad took place at Utah State Prison.
1991 - Coalition airstrikes began against Iraq after negotiations failed
to get Iraq to retreat from the country of Kuwait.
1992 - An IRA bomb, placed next to a remote country road in County
Tyrone, Northern Ireland, killed seven building workers and injured
seven others.
1994 - The Northridge earthquake rocked Los Angeles, CA, registering a
6.7 on the Richter Scale. At least 61 people were killed.
1995 - More than 6,000 people were killed when an earthquake with a
magnitude of 7.2 devastated the city of Kobe, Japan.
1997 - Israel gave over 80% of Hebron to Palestinian rule, but held the
remainder where several hundred Jewish settlers lived among 20,000
Palestinians.
1998 - U.S. President Clinton gave his deposition in the Paula Jones
sexual harassment lawsuit against him. He was the first U.S. President
to testify as a defendant in a criminal or civil lawsuit.
2000 - British pharmaceutical companies Glaxo Wellcome PLC and
SmithKline Beecham PLC agreed to a merger that created the world's
largest drugmaker.
2002 - It was announced that Microsoft had signed a joint venture
agreement to produce software with two partners in China. The two
partners were Beijin Centergate Technologies (Holding) Co. and the Stone
Group.

'Mike Tawse Original' Thought For The Day
When You Raise Your Voice: When you disagree with someone, make your
point firmly and calmly. Remember that when you raise your voice, the
only thing you prove is that your voice is stronger than your argument.

Is State Bankruptcy the Best Solution for Fiscal Woes?
Dateline Sacramento, Jan. 5, 2012: The state of California today filed
for federal bankruptcy protection, citing a worsened economy that has
blown out even the most pessimistic assumptions about its long-term
financial picture.

Hidden Meanings in 12 Popular Logos
Sometimes a company or brand logo is more than it first appears. For
example, take a look at the hidden meanings or messages embedded in
these 12 popular logos below. You won't look at these designs the same
way again.

Two
decades on, battle goes on over 'Gulf War Syndrome'
Twenty years ago this weekend, coalition forces began the air campaign
to force Saddam Hussein's Iraqi troops out of Kuwait. There is little
doubt that some veterans developed unexplained illnesses following their
service in the Gulf two decades ago. Reported symptoms range from
chronic fatigue, headaches and sleep disturbances to joint pains,
irritable bowel, stomach and respiratory disorders and psychological
problems.

Strong Indications of Gold & Silver Shortages
The clear trend in the data clusters that has developed over the last
ten years indicates that the gold open interest will soon be declining
with a rising price as is the case for silver. Taken together the data
shows that in both gold and silver there is a growing reluctance of the
traditional short sellers to meet rising demand even at elevated prices.
This is strongly indicative of looming physical shortages. This
conclusion is corroborated by many other market observations and
anecdotal evidence. We are likely very close to the “tipping point”
where shortages become exposed and a stampede of investors into precious
metals to benefit from the accelerating prices will give rise to a
feeding frenzy that will exacerbate the shortages.

Goldrunner: Has Gold Topped Out? Nope, You Ain’t Seen Nothing, Yet!
Short-Term Projection For Price of Gold – $1,975 by May/June
The channel top for Gold on the log chart lies up around $1975 into May/
June 2011. Is it possible that Gold will go parabolic to the point that
it will bust through the channel top on the log chart before
consolidating above it? We know that even a log chart did not contain
the price rise in Gold in the late 70’s. The Gold Parabola rise tends to
keep investors nervous – potentially selling too soon, then chasing
price higher.

'Secure Communities' Comes to Wisconsin
All 72 counties in Wisconsin are now participating in the U.S. Customs
and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) program called “secure communities,” a
federal information sharing system that uses biometrics, or
fingerprints, to identify both legal and illegal immigrants booked on
criminal charges, federal officials have announced.

Political Rock
Stars Rocking Political Correctness?
When asked by the reporter about comments made to the news people by the
NAACP, the Governor rightly pointed out the status of the NAACP as a
special interest – which it is – and that he wouldn’t bow to any special
interest.

Korean War Games
This is of significant interest. It gets past the propaganda into
certain realities. The conflict area is obviously a set up area that
allows the South Koreans to provoke the North Koreans as much as
possible in order to create a pretext for an actual war.

Jet Stream Winter Blues
The one thing that we have learned is that the jet stream is able to
hugely divert weather conditions anywhere but certainly over North
America. We have been experiencing an extreme of the jet stream.

BP Unveils
Major Share Swap With Russian Oil Giant
BP and Russia's state-controlled Rosneft agreed to a share swap under
which they would jointly explore for offshore oil and gas, in a deal
that immediately raised concerns in the United States about Russia's
global oil ambitions.

Could Britain Be Heading For A Crash?
I had a long talk on Tuesday with one of the wisest and cleverest
economic thinkers I know, and he was sure of one thing: we are heading
for a crash. Is he right?

Global Food Chain Stretched To The Limit
Strained by rising demand and battered by bad weather, the global food
supply chain is stretched to the limit, sending prices soaring and
sparking concerns about a repeat of food riots last seen three years
ago.

Chinese Yuan; A New World Reserve Currency?
Only a mere twelve days into the New Year (2011) and China have already
set the wheels in motion to use their most powerful weapon, the Yuan, in
order to combat inflation. This may well be the first decision of many
that will result in the Yuan being phased in as the new world reserve
currency.

Man Wounded in Tucson Shooting Arrested at Meeting
A victim in the mass shooting north of Tucson attending a special town
hall today was arrested after his outburst at a tea-party supporter who
favored delaying talk about gun laws until emotions over the shooting
have died down.

Rescuers Struggle as Brazil Flood Deaths Rise
Rescuers uncovered more corpses buried under mud and wrecked homes in
southeastern Brazil on Friday as the death toll from torrential rains
and massive floods hit 540 people and looked certain to climb.

Food Prices, Riots, and Starvation
Food prices are going up. Riots in China, India, Bangladesh, Tunisia and
Algeria are about the cost of food. Some countries are talking about
price controls and subsidies to keep prices down.

The Deadly Sun
Often we think of the deadly nature with the sun as one of fire and heat
but the opposite can be true as well.

So You Still Doubt FEMA Camps? OK
So much has taken place in America in the last few months you have to
figure that an uber-socialist power hungry Executive Branch would be all
too ready to institute Martial Law when things lack their definition of
civility.

Where Is America Headed?
“Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a
day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period and
pursued unalterably through every change of ministers, too plainly prove
a deliberate, systematic plan of reducing [a people] to slavery.” Thomas
Jefferson

Bananas, Herbs May Help Prevent HIV Transmission
A study published in the March 19, 2010, issue of The Journal of
Biological Chemistry found that banana lectins, the proteins that bind
to sugars, also bind to HIV-infected cells and prevent their replication
and transmission.

FDA Deputy Commissioner Tough On Medical Devices Resigns
After serving less than two years as the Deputy Commissioner of the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Joshua Sharfstein recently announced
that he is resigning from his position at the agency to become head of
Maryland's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Number of the Week: Big Banks Gobble Up Market Share
The top five U.S. commercial and investment banks — Bank of America,
J.P. Morgan Chase, Citigroup, Wells Fargo and Goldman Sachs — have
emerged from the financial crisis larger than ever. As of the third
quarter of 2010, they had a total of $8.6 trillion in assets, according
to data provider Capital IQ. That’s 13.3% of all U.S. financial firms’
assets, up from 11.8% three years earlier, when the financial crisis
hit. Comment: Like the illusionary two party system, this is the
illusionary "top five" banks.

Today In
History Friday January 14, 2011
1784 - The United States ratified a peace treaty with England ending the
Revolutionary War.
1878 - Alexander Graham Bell demonstrated the telephone for Britain's
Queen Victoria.
1882 - The Myopia Hunt Club, in Winchester, MA, became the first country
club in the United States.
1943 - U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt became the first U.S.
President to fly in an airplane while in office. He flew from Miami, FL,
to French Morocco where he met with British Prime Minister Winston
Churchill to discuss World War II.
1952 - NBC's "Today" show premiered.
1954 - The Hudson Motor Car Company merged with Nash-Kelvinator. The new
company was called the American Motors Corporation.
1963 - George C. Wallace was sworn in as governor of Alabama.
1969 - An explosion aboard the U.S. aircraft carrier Enterprise off
Hawaii killed 25 crew members.
1994 - U.S. President Clinton and Russian President Boris Yeltsin signed
Kremlin accords to stop aiming missiles at any nation and to dismantle
the nuclear arsenal of Ukraine.
1998 - Whitewater prosecutors questioned Hillary Rodham Clinton at the
White House for 10 minutes about the gathering of FBI background files
on past Republican political appointees.
1998 - In Dallas, researchers report an enzyme that slows the aging
process and cell death.
1999 - The impeachment trial of U.S. President Clinton began in
Washington, DC.
1999 - The U.S. proposed the lifting of the U.N. ceilings on the sale of
oil in Iraq. The restriction being that the money be used to buy
medicine and food for the Iraqi people.
2000 - A U.N. tribunal sentenced five Bosnian Croats to up to 25 years
for the 1993 massacre of over 100 Muslims in a Bosnian village.
2002 - NBC's "Today" celebrated its 50th anniversary on television.
2004 - In St. Louis, a Lewis and Clark Exhibition opened at the Missouri
History Museum. The exhibit featured 500 rare and priceless objects used
by the Corps of Discovery.
2005 - A probe, from the Cassini-Huygens mission, sent back pictures
during and after landing on Saturn's moon Titan. The mission was
launched on October 15, 1997.

Paxil Warnings and Recent Studies
Paxil has been linked to numerous birth defects. Heart defects including
atrial and ventricular septal defects have been linked with Paxil use
during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Beyond
Pesticides
Beyond Pesticides (formerly National Coalition Against the Misuse of
Pesticides) works with allies in protecting public health and the
environment to lead the transition to a world free of toxic pesticides.
The founders, who established Beyond Pesticides as a nonprofit
membership organization in 1981, felt that without the existence of such
an organized, national network, local, state and national pesticide
policy would become, under chemical industry pressure, increasingly
unresponsive to public health and environmental concerns.

Suspected US Missile Strike Kills 4 in Pakistan
Suspected U.S. unmanned aircraft fired four missiles at a house in a
militant-infested area of northwestern Pakistan on Wednesday, killing at
least four people, Pakistani intelligence officials said.

Mexican Official: 34,612 Drug-War Deaths in 4 Yrs
MEXICO CITY — A total of 34,612 people have died in drug-related
killings in Mexico in the four years since Mexican President Felipe
Calderon declared an offensive against drug cartels, officials said
Wednesday.

City Of Detroit Sends Out Thousands Of Incorrect Property Tax Bills
Nearly 60,000 Detroit property tax bills we mailed out with the wrong
interest rate. “In an environment where we are told on a daily basis
that the city is broke, it makes absolutely no sense what-so-ever that
the city can not get their game together so that they collect money and
collect it on time.” City ombudsman, Dorian Brown, says her office has
been swamped with calls.

Clinton: Loughner Acted Politically
Jared Loughner is an extremist because he carried out the Arizona
shootings while acting on his “political views,” Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton said Wednesday.

Third gun Control Bill Proposed Since Tucson Shootings
High-profile gun violence has historically renewed legislative interest
in the cause of gun control, and the shootings of twenty people in
Tucson, Arizona is no exception -- only this time, the measures face
steeper hurdles than before.

The Debt Ceiling: 71 Days
The dirty little secret titled “The Debt Ceiling” is again fast
approaching. We have a minimum daily operating cost of 4 Billion Dollars
and only $290 Billion left until we smack the limit.

South Africa Becomes Full Member of BRIC
Brazil, Russian Federation, India and China (BRIC) has invited South
Africa to join them as a full member. This is seen as an affirmation of
the country's status as part of the dynamic evolving world economy and
it is expected to boost investment and trade opportunities for the
country, as it has done for the other four states comprising the
informal grouping.

Obama: "Our Hope and Dreams Are Bound Together"
Offering no easy explanations but yearning to put hatred and division
aside, Presidenti Obama offered a stirring memorial later Wednesday for
those killed and wounded at a weekent get-together with U.S. Rep.
Gabrielle Giffords (text below).

S&P, Moody's Warn On US Credit Rating
LONDON—Two leading rating firms have cautioned the U.S. on its credit
rating, expressing concern over a deteriorating fiscal situation that
they say needs correction.

Could the US Central Bank Go Broke?
With the U.S. unemployment rate at 9.4 percent and only tentative signs
that businesses are beefing up hiring, Fed officials, including Chairman
Bernanke, see a duty to prevent a further deterioration of economic
conditions -- and have signaled a readiness to use all the tools at
their disposal.

Age of Aquarius Actually Age of Capricorn, Thanks to Rotation of the
Earth
There are many newspapers and websites that promise to tell your
fortune, detailing where the planets were when you were born and what
their future movements suggest about your future. It's called astrology,
and whether or not you believe in the signs of the zodiac, you won't
believe this: It's all wrong.

Fireball Streaks Across Arkansas Sky
There's still no official explanation for a fireball that was reported
by residents of seven states, from Florida to Oklahoma around 9:00 p.m.
Tuesday night.

Weather Control Is No Myth: Scientists Engineer Thunderstorms Over Abu
Dhabi
Discussions of weather control technology used to be limited to the
hushed gossip of conspiracy theorists, but it turns out the conspiracy
theorists were right (again). Today in Abu Dhabi, scientists have
successfully manipulated entire weather systems, causing up to fifty
downpours of rain across the Al Ain region the desert nation over the
last year.

Wyoming Bill Would Make It Illegal To enforce Obamacare
Legislation recently introduced in Wyoming would make it a federal crime
for government officials and those who work with the government to
enforce any provisions in the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care
Act," also widely known as "Obamacare".

Today In
History Thursday January 13, 2011
1794 - U.S. President Washington approved a measure adding two stars and
two stripes to the American flag, following the admission of Vermont and
Kentucky to the union.
1854 - Anthony Faas of Philadelphia, PA, patented the accordion.
1900 - In Austria-Hungary, Emperor Franz Joseph decreed that German
would be the language of the imperial army to combat Czech nationalism.
1906 - Hugh Gernsback, of the Electro Importing Company, advertised
radio receivers for sale for the price of just $7.50 in "Scientific
American" magazine.
1928 - Ernst F. W. Alexanderson gave the first public demonstration of
television.
1942 - Henry Ford patented the plastic automobile, which allowed for a
30% decrease in car weight.
1966 - Robert C. Weaver became the first black Cabinet member when he
was appointed Secretary of Housing and Urban Development by U.S.
President Johnson.
1982 - An Air Florida 737 crashed into the capital's 14th Street Bridge
after takeoff and fell into the Potomac River. 78 people were killed.
1989 - Bernhard H. Goetz was sentenced to one year in prison for
possession of an unlicensed gun that he used to shoot four youths he
claimed were about to rob him. He was freed the following September.
1990 - L. Douglas Wilder of Virginia, the nation's first elected black
governor, took the oath of office in Richmond.
2002 - Japan and Singapore signed a free trade pact that would remove
tariffs on almost all goods traded between the two countries.
2002 - U.S. President George W. Bush fainted after choking on a pretzel.
2009 - Ethiopian military forces began pulling out of Somalia, where
they had tried to maintain order for nearly two years.

Loughner Stopped by Wildlife Officer Hours before Shooting
A wildlife officer pulled over the suspect in the assassination attempt
against an Arizona congresswoman less than three hours before the deadly
attack, authorities said Wednesday as they pieced together more details
of a frenzied morning.

Bill Seeks to Wrap Congress in Actual Bubble
In the wake of a mass shooting in Arizona that left six dead and one
congresswoman in the hospital, some Republican lawmakers seem to be most
worried about finding ways to protect themselves.

2 Iraqis, 1 Kuwaiti Killed; 42 Iraqis Wounded
The Iraqi government is investigating a shootout between the Kuwaiti
Coast Guard and a group of Iraqi fishermen that left one Kuwaiti dead.
Meanwhile, at least two Iraqis were killed and 42 more were wounded in
this and other incidents.

Wage Drop Has Been Worst in Decades
Wages for American workers have fallen dramatically since the financial
crisis, in what will likely turn out to be the worst such plunge since
the Great Depression, the Wall
Street Journal reports.

Snow in 49 State Including Hawaii
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - According to national news sources, it is
snowing in 49 states across the country including Hawaii where snow has
fallen atop Mauna Kea on the Big
Island.

Brent Oil Hits 27 Month High; $100 Looms
Brent crude prices rose on Wednesday to near $99 a barrel after
production shutdowns, falling U.S. inventories and growing demand sent
oil toward triple digits for the first
time since 2008.

New Move to Make Yuan a Global Currency
China has launched trading in its currency in the U.S. for the first
time, an explicit endorsement by Beijing of the fast-growing market in
the yuan and a significant step in
the country's plan to foster global trading in its currency.

World Food Price Shock Feared
The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has raised the alarm on
the potential danger of a “food price shock”, specially for the poor
people in developing countries.

Today In
History Wednesday January 12, 2011
1773 - The first public museum in America was established in Charleston,
SC.
1866 - The Royal Aeronautical Society was founded in London.
1896 - At Davidson College, several students took x-ray photographs.
They created the first X-ray photographs to be made in America.
1908 - A wireless message was sent long-distance for the first time from
the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
1915 - The U.S. House of Representatives rejected a proposal to give
women the right to vote.
1932 - Hattie W. Caraway became the first woman elected to the U.S.
Senate.
1940 - Soviet bombers raided cities in Finland.
1942 - U.S. President Roosevelt created the National War Labor Board.
1945 - During World War II, Soviet forces began a huge offensive against
the Germans in Eastern Europe.
1948 - The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states could not discriminate
against law-school applicants because of race.
1966 - U.S. President Johnson said in his State of the Union address
that the United States should stay in South Vietnam until Communist
aggression there was ended.
1970 - Nigeria's civil war ended.
1973 - Yassar Arafat was re-elected as head of the Palestinian
Liberation Organization.
1986 - Space shuttle Columbia blasted off with a crew that included the
first Hispanic-American in space, Dr. Franklin R. Chang-Diaz.
1991 - The U.S. Congress passed a resolution authorizing President Bush
to use military power to force Iraq out of Kuwait.
1995 - Northern Ireland Secretary Patrick Mayhew announced that as of
January 16 British troops would no longer carry out daylight street
patrols in Belfast.
1998 - 19 European nations agreed to prohibit human cloning.
1998 - Linda Tripp provided Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr's office
with taped conversations between herself and former White House intern
Monica Lewinsky.
2000 - The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 5-4 ruling, gave police broad
authority to stop and question people who run at the sight of an
officer.
2005 - NASA launched "Deep Impact". The spacecraft was planned to impact
on Comet Tempel 1 after a six-month, 268 million-mile journey.
2006 - The U.S. Mint began shipping new 5-cent coins to the 12 regional
Federal Reserve Banks. The coin has an image of Thomas Jefferson taken
from a 1800 Rembrandt Peale portrait in which the president is looking
forward. Since 1909, when presidents were first depicted on circulating
coins, all presidents had been shown in profile.

Your smartphone could be your most dangerous possession
Now that smartphones double as wallets and bank accounts -- allowing
users to manage their finances, transfer money, make payments, deposit
checks and swipe their phones as credit cards -- they are very lucrative
scores for thieves. And with 30% of phone subscribers owning iPhones,
BlackBerrys and Droids, there are a lot of people at risk.

Quote from Westboro's Site:
"Westboro Baptist Church to picket the funeral of Christina Greene, the
9-year-old girl cut off in her youth for the rebellion of the parents,
preachers, and leaders of this nation."

DeLay Defiant Before Getting 3-Year Prison Term
AUSTIN, Texas— Former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay remained
defiant as he faced a judge's sentence to three years in prison for a
scheme to illegally influence Texas elections, insisting he committed no
crime and was the victim of selective prosecution by authorities
targeting his politics.

Housing Prices Declined 1.6% in November
CoreLogic reports the year-over-year change. The headline for this post
is for the change from October to November 2010. The CoreLogic HPI is a
three month weighted average of September,October and November, and is
not seasonally adjusted (NSA).

Assange: We're Stepping Up Release of Leaked Docs
WikiLeaks will step up its publication schedule of secret documents,
founder Julian Assange announced Tuesday, promising more revelations
based on the group's stash of confidential U.S. embassy cables and other
leaks.

Oil Surges on Offshore Drilling Report
Oil prices surged Tuesday after a presidential panel investigating the
Gulf oil spill said the oil industry and the government need to do more
to reduce the chances of another large-scale disaster.

Gates Warns of North Korea Missile Threat
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates warned Tuesday that North Korea was
within five years of being able to strike the continental United States
with an intercontinental ballistic missile, and said that, combined with
its expanding nuclear program, the country “is becoming a direct threat
to the United States.”

The Great Food Crisis of 2011
As the new year begins, the price of wheat is setting an all-time high
in the United Kingdom. Food riots are spreading across Algeria.

The Coming Food Riots
If all the food in the world were shared out evenly, there would be
enough to go around.

Virginia Creates Subcommittee to Study Monetary Alternatives In Case of
Terminal Fed Breakdown
In what may one day be heralded as the formal proposal that proverbially
started it all, the Commonwealth of Virginia introduced House Resolution
No. 557 to establish a joint subcommittee to "to study whether the
Commonwealth should adopt a currency to serve as an alternative to the
currency distributed by the Federal Reserve System in the event of a
major breakdown of the Federal Reserve System."

Bill Ayers,
Communist Provided Arizona Shooter's Curriculum?
Jared Lee Loughner, the suspected gunman in Saturday's Arizona shooting,
attended a high school that is part of a network in which teachers are
trained and provided resources by a liberal group founded by Weatherman
terrorist Bill Ayers and funded by President Obama, WND has learned.

Today In
History Tuesday January 11, 2011
1770 - The first shipment of rhubarb was sent to the United States from
London.
1805 - The Michigan Territory was created.
1815 - U.S. General Andrew Jackson achieved victory at the Battle of New
Orleans. The War of 1812 had officially ended on December 24, 1814, with
the signing of the Treaty of Ghent. The news of the signing had not
reached British troops in time to prevent their attack on New Orleans.
1861 - Alabama seceded from the United States.
1878 - In New York, milk was delivered in glass bottles for the first
time by Alexander Campbell.
1902 - "Popular Mechanics" magazine was published for the first time.
1913 - The first sedan-type car was unveiled at the National Automobile
Show in New York City. The car was manufactured by the Hudson Motor
Company.
1922 - At Toronto General Hospital, Leonard Thompson became the first
person to be successfully treated with insulin.
1935 - Amelia Earhart Putnam became the first woman to fly solo from
Hawaii to California.
1942 - Japan declared war against the Netherlands. The same day,
Japanese forces invaded the Dutch East Indies.
1943 - The United States and Britain signed treaties relinquishing
extraterritorial rights in China.
1964 - U.S. Surgeon General Luther Terry released a report that said
that smoking cigarettes was a definite health hazard.
1988 - U.S. Vice President George Bush met with representatives of
independent counsel Lawrence E. Walsh to answer questions about the
Iran-Contra affair.
1996 - Ryutaro Hashimoto become Japan's prime minister. He replaced
Tomiichi Murayama who had resigned on January 5, 1996.
2000 - The merger between AOL and Time Warner was approved by the U.S.
government with restrictions.
2000 - The U.S. Postal Service unveiled the second Vietnam Veterans
Memorial commemorative stamp in a ceremony at The Wall.
2001 - The Texas Board of Criminal Justice released a review of the
escape of the "Texas 7." It stated that prison staff missed critical
opportunities to prevent the escape by ignoring a fire alarm, not
reporting unsupervised inmates and not demanding proper identification
from inmates.
2002 - Thomas Junta, 44, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for
beating another man to death at their son's hockey practice. The
incident occurred on July 5, 2000.

Timing the Inevitable Decline of the U.S. Dollar
From an investment perspective, investors should continue to expect
currency volatility under the current international monetary system.
Further, the U.S. Dollar will continue to be the world's safe haven
currency in times of crisis for the forseeable future. However,
according to Eichengreen a change in the international monetary order is
all but inevitable within a decade.

Obama aide's wife dead in burning car
Washington lobbyist Ashley Turton, the wife of a White House aide, was
found dead Monday in a burning vehicle at her home in Washington,
authorities said.

ATF Plans Gun Registration in Border States
As the Obama administration is poised to enact a sweeping infringement
of the right of Americans to keep and bear arms in the states bordering
Mexico, the only thing which may stand in the way is not the
Republican-dominated House of Representatives, but the Federal Paperwork
Reduction Act.

Empire of Bases 2.0
India, a rising power, almost had one (but the Tajiks said no). China,
which last year became the world’s second largest economy as well as the
planet’s leading energy consumer, and is expanding abroad like mad
(largely via trade and the power of the purse), still has none.

V FOR VENDETTA - 2011
Every Crisis intensifies as time progresses to an ultimate crescendo.
The initial financial crisis built to a dramatic peak in September 2008
as the government and Federal Reserve have taken extraordinary and
immoral actions to protect Wall Street banks. Since September 11, 2001,
the government has used fear as its primary means of controlling the
American population. Fear of terrorists, fear of flying, fear of WMD,
fear of mushroom clouds, fear of the axis of evil, fear of economic
collapse, fear of a Great Depression, and now fear of the Tea Party
movement. This attack by a crazy man will lead to further losses of
liberties and freedoms. That is a certainty.

North Magnetic Pole at 55 KPY
This is one more attempt at explaining the nature of the Earth’s
magnetic field. The presumption is that a deep plume moving slowly will
twist and distort the magnetic field.

Spinning Unemployment in a Collapsing Empire
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported Friday that the economy
gained only 103,000 new jobs in December--not enough to keep up with
population growth--but the rate of unemployment (U.3) fell from 9.8% to
9.4%. If you are confused by the report, you are among the many.

Biometric Identification On A Grand Scale
Biometric technology continues to evolve and is gaining increasing
importance as a trusted method of personal identification in a wide
range of applications deployed throughout the world.

No Estimate For Reopening of Alaska Oil Pipeline
The Trans Alaska Pipeline was shut for a second day on Sunday, with no
indication of when it would reopen, after a leak was discovered at
Prudhoe Bay, forcing oil companies to cut production to 5 percent of
their average 630,000 barrels per day.

Carolyn McCarthy Readies Gun Control Bill
One of the fiercest gun-control advocates in Congress, Rep. Carolyn
McCarthy (D-N.Y.), pounced on the shooting massacre in Tucson Sunday,
promising to introduce legislation as soon as Monday targeting the
high-capacity ammunition clip the gunman used.

Food Skyrockets to Highest Prices Ever
Figures recently released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
index of 55 food commodities indicates that worldwide food prices hit a
record high in December.

Iran Says It Has Arrested Spy Ring Linked to Israel
Iran has arrested a "network of spies" linked to Israel's Mossad
intelligence service which it blames for the assassination of an Iranian
nuclear scientist in 2010, Iran's state television reported on Monday.

Suspect In Arizona Shootings to Appear in Court
A 22-year-old man charged with trying to assassinate congresswoman
Gabrielle Giffords in a shooting rampage that killed six people and
wounded 14, is due to appear in court on Monday on charges of murder and
attempted murder.

Hearings Begin on Botched Blizzard Response
Expect a flurry of criticism today as the City Council grills Mayor
Michael Bloomberg's administration in detail for the first time about
its admittedly poor response to the post-Christmas blizzard.

China Leads List of Biggest US Creditors
President Barack Obama will host Chinese President Hu Jintao for a state
visit on January 19, and the leaders of the two economic powerhouses are
expected to discuss thorny issues such as China's trade surplus and its
currency policies.

Tensions Rise In Currency Wars
If the world’s shell-shocked investors thought that 2011 might see an
outbreak of peace in the currency wars, they were sadly mistaken.

'NYPD Blue' Ruling Opens the Door to More Nudity
The US Second Circuit Court of Appeals has vacated the $1.21 million
worth of fines that the FCC levied against ABC after alleging that the
network violated broadcast indecency standards for daring to show
actress Charlotte Ross' naked behind during a 2003 episode of "NYPD
Blue."

Pressure on Portugal Heightens Amid Debt Fears
Europe's debt crisis flared up once again Monday, as Portugal's
borrowing rates briefly spiked to euro-era highs amid reports Germany
and France are pushing it to accept outside help to avoid contagion to
other countries.

Today In
History Monday January 10, 2011
1776 - Thomas Paine published his pamphlet "Common Sense."
1861 - Florida seceded from the United States.
1863 - Prime Minister Gladstone opened the first section of the London
Underground Railway system, from Paddington to Farringdon Street.
1870 - John D. Rockefeller incorporated Standard Oil.
1901 - Oil was discovered at the Spindletop oil field near Beaumont, TX.
1920 - The League of Nations ratified the Treaty of Versailles,
officially ending World War I with Germany.
1920 - The League of Nations held its first meeting in Geneva.
1928 - The Soviet Union ordered the exile of Leon Trotsky.
1943 - U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt sailed from Miami, FL, to
Trinidad becoming the first President to visit a foreign country during
wartime.
1946 - The first meeting of the United Nations General Assembly took
place with 51 nations represented.
1949 - Vinyl records were introduced by RCA (45 rpm) and Columbia (33.3
rpm).
1957 - Harold Macmillan became prime minister of Britain, following the
resignation Anthony Eden.
1984 - The United States and the Vatican established full diplomatic
relations for the first time in more than a century.
1990 - Time Inc. and Warner Communications Inc. completed a $14 billion
merger.
1994 - In Manassas, VA, Lorena Bobbitt went on trial. She had been
charged with maliciously wounding her husband John. She was acquitted by
reason of temporary insanity.
2000 - It was announced that Time-Warner had agreed to buy America
On-line (AOL). It was the largest-ever corporate merger priced at $162
billion. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) approved the deal on
December 14, 2000.
2001 - American Airlines agreed to acquire most of Trans World Airlines
(TWA) assets for about $500 million. The deal brought an end to the
financially troubled TWA.
2002 - In France, the "Official Journal" reported that all women could
get the morning-after contraception pill for free in pharmacies.
2003 - North Korea announced that it was withdrawing from the global
nuclear arms control treaty and that it had no plans to develop nuclear
weapons.
2007 - The iTunes Music Store reached 1.3 million feature length films
sold and 50 million television episodes sold.

Tucson Suspect Jared Loughner Due in Ariz. Court - They're asking that
San Diego attorney Judy Clarke be appointed!
Authorities weren't saying late Sunday where Loughner was being held,
and officials were working to appoint an attorney for him. Heather
Williams, the first assistant federal public defender in Arizona, said
they're asking that San Diego attorney Judy Clarke be appointed. Public
defenders are asking that the attorney who defended Oklahoma City
bombing conspirator Timothy McVeigh and "Unabomber" Ted Kaczynski defend
Jared Loughner, who makes his first court appearance Monday afternoon.

Arizona Assassin Obsessed With Mind Control
Jared Loughner, the gunman who shot Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and
numerous other victims including a Federal Judge and a nine-year-old
girl during a political event in Tucson today, was a US military recruit
who was obsessed with mind control, mirroring the circumstances of many
other mass shooters in history.

Democrat Group Using Gifford's Shooting for Fundraiser!
An extreme, left-wing Democrat group calling itself 21st Century
Democrats has had the gall to send out an email blast using as a
fundraising tool Saturday’s criminal shooting of Representative
Gabrielle Giffords in Arizona.

Milwaukee man's website mirrors suspect's conspiracy statements
Man gets national attention when he's mentioned on MSNBC. Miller began
receiving national attention when he was mentioned Saturday on the cable
TV news channel MSNBC. Mark Potok, director of the Southern Poverty Law
Center's Intelligence Project, said Loughner's YouTube video rant that
"the government is implying mind control and brainwash on the people by
controlling grammar" is similar to Miller's views on grammar and
government conspiracy.

Parent alert: New report confirms poisoned Gulf seafood (video)
Scientists have released a new report on results of testing Louisiana
seafood that further confirms the present dangerous human health
situation, especially to children, not just in the Gulf region but
throughout the nation, as reported by other doctors such as Dr. Rodney
Soto.

VIDEO: Controversy Over Vaccine Research
CBS News Investigative Correspondent Sharyl Attkisson asked Dr. Andrew
Wakefield about the controversy surrounding his original study in 1998
on autistic children and MMR vaccine.

Banks lose key foreclosure ruling in top Massachusetts court
In a decision that may slow foreclosures nationwide, Massachusetts'
highest court voided the seizure of two homes by Wells Fargo & Co and US
Bancorp after the banks failed to show they held the mortgages at the
time they foreclosed. Bank shares fell, weighing on broader stock
indexes, on fears the decision could threaten lenders' ability to work
through hundreds of thousands of pending foreclosures.

Is 2011 The Beginning of the End for Medicare?
But the bottom line is that all Americans — not just Boomers getting
ready to sign up for Medicare — must recognize Medicare is the really
big federal deficit elephant in the room. What we're all paying into the
system through payroll deductions is in no way close to the amount of
Medicare benefits we will consume. Comment: Who's to say that the
new Obamacare will be managed any better? History tells us, it won't.
(Thanks Jimm)

The New Realities of Retirement
Average 401(k) account balances — after increasing in 2003 and for the
next four consecutive years — fell 28% in 2008, according to a recent
joint study by the Investment Company Institute and the Employee Benefit
Research Institute. Although the average account balance bounced back
32% in 2009, rising to $109,723, it was still below 2007 levels.
Overall, accounts rose by an average annual growth rate of 10.5% from
2003 to 2009. But most of the increase was due to continued
contributions rather than investment gains. Comment: See how gold
and silver also did during that time period...tax-free!

Obama Eyeing Internet ID for Americans
STANFORD, Calif. - President Obama is planning to hand the U.S. Commerce
Department authority over a forthcoming cybersecurity effort to create
an Internet ID for Americans, a White House official said here today.

4 Iraqis Killed, 10 Wounded
Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr drew thousands of Iraqis to his first
speech since returning home from Iran. Al-Sadr spoke of resisting the
United States but also allowing American troops the opportunity to leave
in a "suitable" way.

Darrell Issa -
Government Oversight
This is something that is available, that they already tape and now they
are making available on the web. This is something that every single
committee and subcommittee ought to be required to do.

Leftist
Concerted Attack Begins Already
Did we really expect anything different? Did we expect that the left
leaning media, who hasn’t had anyone to really target over the last few
years besides fast moving and hard to hit bloggers and people in the
minority in Congress, wouldn’t just bubble over with enthusiastic
vituperative hate now that they have a viable target to hit? Did you
think they wouldn’t come out and just tell you how stupid you were for
the vote you just cast?

Parcel Addressed to Napolitano Ignites in DC
A package addressed to the U.S. Homeland Security secretary ignited
Friday at a postal facility, and authorities said it was similar to
fiery parcels sent to Maryland officials a day earlier by someone
complaining about the state's terrorism tip line.

DHS Links Jared Loughner to American Renaissance
A DHS memo obtained by Fox News suggested strong suspicion linking Jared
Loughner, the man accused in the Tucson shooting on Saturday, to what it
called an “anti-ZOG (Zionist Occupational Government) and anti-semitic”
group known as American Renaissance.

Obama Picks Wall Street Insider As White House Chief of Staff
President Obama’s choice of William Daley for the post of White House
chief of staff is a clear signal to corporate America that his
administration will dedicate the next two years to accommodating the
wishes of big business for reduced regulations and taxes for
corporations and austerity measures for the working class.

Royal Family Granted New Right of Secrecy
The Royal Family is to be granted absolute protection from public
scrutiny in a controversial legal reform designed to draw a veil of
secrecy over the affairs of the Queen, Prince Charles and Prince
William.

Why Americans Are So Angry
CNBC financial reporter Rick Santelli had just blasted the Obama
administration's plan to help homeowners facing foreclosure, and called
for a "tea party" protest in Chicago.

US Corn Stocks Seen 15 year Low
U.S. corn stocks are expected toslump to the lowest level in 15 years
this year due to strong demand, possibly stoking global food prices
which hit a record high last month, a Reuters Poll of analysts showed.

New York Owes $200 Billion in Retiree Health Care Costs
New York State, along with its cities and counties, have promised $200
billion worth of retirement health care benefits to their employees, and
no one knows where that money is going to come from, according to a
study conducted by the Empire Center for New York State Policy.

Today In
History Friday January 7, 2011
1782 - The Bank of North America opened in Philadelphia. It was the
first commercial bank in the United States.
1789 - Americans voted for the electors that would choose George
Washington to be the first U.S. president.
1887 - Thomas Stevens completed the first worldwide bicycle trip. He
started his trip in April 1884. Stevens and his bike traveled 13,500
miles in almost three years time.
1896 - "Fannie Farmer Cookbook" cookbook was published.
1904 - The distress signal "CQD" was established. Two years later "SOS"
became the radio distress signal because it was quicker to send by
wireless radio.
1927 - Transatlantic telephone service Service began between New York
and London. 31 calls were made on this first day.
1942 - The World War II siege of Bataan began.
1953 - U.S. President Harry Truman announced the development of the
hydrogen bomb.
1954 - The Duoscopic TV receiver was unveiled this day. The TV set
allowed the watching of two different shows at the same time.
1959 - The United States recognized Fidel Castro's new government in
Cuba.
1968 - The cost of a U.S. first class stamp was raised to 6 cents.
1975 - OPEC agreed to raise crude oil prices by 10%, which began a time
of world economic inflation.
1979 - Vietnamese forces captured the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh,
overthrowing the Khmer Rouge government.
1980 - U.S. President Jimmy Carter signed legislation that authorized
$1.5 billion in loans for the bail out of Chrysler Corp.
1989 - Crown Prince Akihito became the emperor of Japan following the
death of his father, Emperor Hirohito.
1990 - The Leaning Tower of Pisa was closed to the public. The
accelerated rate of "leaning" raised fears for the safety of its
visitors.
1996 - Alvaro Arzu was elected president of Guatemala.
1996 - One of the biggest blizzards in U.S. history hit the eastern
states. More than 100 deaths were later blamed on the severe weather.
1998 - Former White House intern Monica Lewinsky signed an affidavit
denying that she had an affair with U.S. President Clinton.
1999 - U.S. President Clinton went on trial before the Senate. It was
only the second time in U.S. history that an impeached president had
gone to trial. Clinton was later acquitted of perjury and obstruction of
justice charges.
2002 - Microsoft Corp. chairman Bill Gates introduced a new device code
named Mira. The device was tablet-like and was a cross between a
handheld computer and a TV remote control.
2009 - Russia shut off all gas supplies to Europe through Ukraine. Prime
Minister Vladimir Putin publicly endorsed the move and urged greater
international involvement in the energy dispute.

Millard South shooting: Suspension ignited fury
Questions remained and the pain lingered Thursday in the wake of what's
believed to be the worst school shooting incident in Nebraska. After
Wednesday, Millard South joins the long, sobering list of schools around
the globe that have been devastated by disaffected students with guns.

Another Sign of the Dollar Collapse: World Bank Issues First Yuan Bonds
In yet another sign of the coming collapse of the Dollar as the sole
international reserve currency, the World Bank issued its first bond
denominated in the Chinese yuan currency in Hong Kong on Wednesday. The
primary purchasers of the two-year bond were Hong Kong-based financial
institutions, companies and wealthy individuals. While the issuance
raised only 500 million yuan ($76 million), it provides further evidence
that the the global economy is in search of alternative currencies to
the diseased U.S. Dollar.

2011: Year of the Yellow Brick Road
Think volatility, think falling dollar. Think you wish your yellow brick
road was paved in gold. But if enough believe in the dream, we might be
able to keep on dreaming. Unfortunately, little has worked out the way
our policy makers have wanted, so at the very least, investors my want
to consider taking into account the possibility that we have woken up
from this fairy tale.

U.S. to send 1,400 extra troops to Afghanistan
The United States plans to send 1,400 additional combat Marines to
Afghanistan to try to hold on to recent but fragile security gains, only
months before a planned U.S. drawdown, The Wall Street Journal reported
Thursday.

'Birther' Arrested During Constitution Reading
A woman was arrested in the House gallery Thursday after interrupting a
reading of the Constitution by yelling out her belief that President
Barack Obama is not a natural born citizen of the United States.

Raw milk issue could resurface in Legislature
Another attempt to legalize the sale of raw, unpasteurized milk to
Wisconsin consumers is coming before the Legislature and a new governor
who says he would support it. Thursday, several key lawmakers said they
favored reviving a raw milk bill that was vetoed in 2010 by former Gov.
Jim Doyle (Democrat). Advocates say raw milk contains nutrients, enzymes
and bacteria that boost the immune system. Opponents say it can carry
bacteria that can sicken or kill people.

US Could Hit Debt Ceiling By March 31
As we predicted in September, the US, which is issuing debt at a clip of
about $125-150 billion per month (in line with the Fed's monetization of
every single newly printed dollar of debt), will likely hit its debt
ceiling as soon as March.

Swine Flu in Britain
The take home here is that we need to strengthen our immune systems with
Vitamin D which happens to be commonly deficient throughout the northern
lands like England.

Can Banks Foreclose on Mortgages They Do Not Own?
“The record in this case reflects how mortgage lending changed in recent
years and how the industry failed to ensure that its new business model
conformed to state law. . . Having profited greatly from practices
regarding the assignment and securitization of mortgages not grounded in
the law, it is reasonable for them to bear the cost of failing to ensure
that such practices conformed to Massachusetts law.”

Told 'Ya So
What was the rule? That you couldn't claim "general welfare" or
"necessary and proper" as justification - you had to point to an actual
enumerated power.

Big Sis Responds In Lawsuit To Suspend TSA Scanners
The Department Of Homeland Security, headed up by ‘Big Sis’ Janet
Napolitano has filed an answer brief (PDF) in the ongoing lawsuit
brought against the TSA over the controversial use of radiation-firing
naked imaging scanners.

Pentagon to Cut Spending by $78 Billion, Reduce Troop Strength
The Pentagon will have to cut spending by $78 billion over the next five
years, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said Thursday, forcing the Army
and Marine Corps to shrink the number of troops on active duty and
eventually imposing the first freeze on military spending since the
Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Madison Lab Solves Mystery of Arkansas Blackbird Die-Off
They died of blunt-force trauma, according to the National Wildlife
Health Center in Madison. Samples of the blackbirds - and other
blackbirds from a separate mass die-off about the same time in Louisiana
- were brought to the little-known laboratory on Madison's west side for
necropsies.

China Buys EU Government Debt
China has been increasing its holdings of European government debt,
including that issued by Spain, amid the euro-zone crisis, Chinese Vice
Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng was quoted as saying on Thursday.

Utah's $1.5 Billion Cyber-Security Center Under Way
Thursday's groundbreaking for a $1.5 billion National Security Agency
data center is being billed as important in the short term for
construction jobs and important in the long term for Utah's reputation
as a technology center.

Obesity Costs USA 4168 Billion Every Year
Obesity-related health problems cost the United States $168 billion
every year, amounting to 17 percent of all medical bills, according to a
study conducted by researchers from Cornell and Lehigh Universities and
released by the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Today In
History Thursday January 6, 2011
1838 - Samuel Morse publicly demonstrated the telegraph for the first
time.
1896 - The first American women’s six-day bicycle race was held at
Madison Square Garden in New York City.
1900 - In India, it was reported that millions of people were dying from
starvation.
1900 - Off of South Africa, the British seized the German steamer
Herzog. The boat was released on January 22, 1900.
1912 - New Mexico became the 47th U.S. state.
1930 - The first diesel-engine automobile trip was completed after a run
of 792 miles from Indianapolis, IN, to New York City, NY.
1931 - Thomas Edison executed his last patent application.
1942 - The first commercial around-the-world airline flight took place.
Pan American Airlines was the company that made history with the feat.
1942 - The National Collegiate Football Rules Committee abolished the Y
formation.
1945 - The Battle of the Bulge ended with 130,000 German and 77,000
Allied casualties.
1950 - Britain recognized the Communist government of China.
1952 - "Peanuts" debuted in Sunday papers across the United States.
1967 - U.S. and South Vietnamese forces launched a major offensive,
known as Operation "Deckhouse V", in the Mekong River delta.
1982 - William G. Bonin was convicted in Los Angeles, CA, of being the
"freeway killer" who had murdered 14 young men and boys.
1987 - After a 29-year lapse, the Ford Thunderbird was presented with
the Motor Trend Car of the Year Award. It was the first occurrence of a
repeat winner of the award.
1994 - Figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was clubbed on the right leg by an
assailant at Cobo Arena in Detroit, MI. Four men were later sentenced to
prison for the attack, including Tonya Harding's ex-husband.
1998 - The spacecraft Lunar Prospect was launched into orbit around the
moon. The craft was crashed into the moon, in an effort to find water
under the lunar surface, on July 31, 1999.
1999 - The 106th U.S. Congress opened. The first item on the agenda was
the impeachment proceedings of U.S. President Bill Clinton. The trial
was set to begin January 7, 1999.

Ammonia-Treated Pink Slime Now in Most U.S. Ground Beef
According to the
New York Times, The "majority of hamburger" now sold in the U.S. now
contains fatty slaughterhouse trimmings "the industry once relegated to
pet food and cooking oil," "typically including most of the material
from the outer surfaces of the carcass" that contains "larger
microbiological populations." This "nasty pink slime," as one FDA
microbiologist called it, is now wrung in a centrifuge to remove the
fat, and then treated with AMMONIA to "retard spoilage," and turned into
"a mashlike substance frozen into blocks or chips". Read More...

National Level Exercise to be conducted May 2011
National Level Exercise NLE 2011 will be an operations-based exercise
centered on the scenario of a catastrophic earthquake in the New Madrid
Seismic Zone, encompassing four FEMA Regions (IV, V, VI and VII) and
eight Central U.S. Earthquake States: Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky,
Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee. NLE 2011 will
exercise initial incident response and recovery capabilities, to test
and validate existing plans, policies and procedures to include the New
Madrid Catastrophic Plan (currently under development).

Goldman Circumvents the Rules
Perhaps even more intriguing than Goldman's direct stake in Facebook is
the "special purpose vehicle" that it is creating to allow its wealthy
clients to invest in Facebook alongside the firm ... Goldman did not
pioneer this type of investment structure.

How High Will Gold Go in 2011?
After stellar years for both gold and silver, what prices will precious
metals hit in 2011? Here's an analysis based strictly on their price
behavior in the current bull market.

Forecast 2011 -
Gird Your Loins for Lower Living Standards
The outstanding question from the get-go of 2011 is just this: can a
political economy be kept floating along like a Winnie-the-Pooh balloon
on gusts of sheer fakery? To me, the simple answer is no. The people
running things in the USA have tried everything from pervasive
accounting fraud to complete opacity in trading procedures to looting
the republic’s future. The consensus trance of "recovery" makes itself
manifest through every conduit of public utterance – cable TV news, The
New York Times, the pronouncements of every last elected official – even
though the Consumer Price Index omits items such as food, gasoline, and
heating oil in its calibrations, while heaping on fictional "hedonic"
adjustments.

New Mass Death of Birds in Sweden
In a week that saw unexplained massive bird deaths in the southern
United States, up to 100 birds were found lying in a snow-covered street
in Sweden Wednesday, officials said.

Rising Oil Price Threatens Fragile Recovery
High oil prices threaten to derail the fragile economic recovery among
developed nations this year, the leading energy watchdog has warned,
putting pressure on the Opec oil cartel to increase production.

Action Alert - Now the FDA Is Going After Vitamin C
The FDA has just notified small pharmacies that they will no longer be
allowed to manufacture or distribute injectable vitamin C—despite its
remarkable power to heal conditions that conventional medicine can’t
touch. Please help reverse this outrageous decision!

The Care Bill HB3200
Before you read below, note that about 3 weeks ago the Federal
Government granted over 100 'exemptions' from the Obama Health Care Bill
(mostly to Unions and large public corporations.

Today In
History Wednesday January 5, 2011
1885 - The Long Island Railroad Company became the first to offer
piggy-back rail service which was the transportation of farm wagons on
trains.
1896 - It was reported by The Austrian newspaper that Wilhelm Roentgen
had discovered the type of radiation that became known as X-rays.
1900 - In Ireland, Nationalist leader John Edward Redmond called for a
revolt against British rule.
1903 - The general public could use the Pacific cable for the very first
time.
1914 - Ford Motor Company announced that there would be a new daily
minimum wage of $5 and an eight-hour workday.
1925 - Mrs. Nellie Tayloe Ross was sworn in as the governor of Wyoming
She was the first female governor in the U.S.
1933 - Construction of the Golden Gate Bridge began.
1940 - The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) got its very first
demonstration of FM radio.
1944 - The London "Daily Mail" was the first transoceanic newspaper to
be published.
1948 - Warner Brothers-Pathe showed the very first color newsreel. The
footage was of the Tournament of Roses Parade and the Rose Bowl football
classic.
1956 - In the Peanuts comic strip, Snoopy walked on two legs for the
first time.
1961 - "Mr. Ed" debuted. The show would run for six years.
1972 - U.S. President Richard M. Nixon ordered the development of the
space shuttle.
1987 - U.S. President Ronald Reagan underwent prostate surgery.
1993 - The state of Washington executed Westley Allan Dodd. It was
America's first legal hanging since 1965. Dodd was an admitted child sex
killer.
1998 - U.S. Representative Sonny Bono died in skiing accident.
2002 - A 15 year-old student pilot, Charles Bishop, crashed a small
plane into a building in Tampa, FL. Bishop was about to begin a flying
lesson when he took off without permission and without an instructor.

Year-End Debt-Stravaganza
No promises to "do something about it tomorrow." We've heard about that
now for three years. The time for political stunts and showmanship is
over. This is a real issue, it is a real national crisis, and if you
don't do something about it you'll be lucky to get through 2011 before
it blows up.

Ron Paul versus Ben Bernanke
Since the nomination of Paul to chair the domestic monetary policy
sub-committee, media and academic circles have become intrigued as to
how the relationship between the congress and the Fed will evolve? In
particular, to what extent will he be able to implement the ideas that
he has advocated since the early 1970s, calling for sound money, a
return to gold, and culminating with the elimination of the Fed? To say
that Paul faces great challenges is an understatement.

The Long Swim – How the Fed Could Become Insolvent
The 1933 prohibition on gold ownership by U.S. citizens weakened the
constraint of gold redeemability, but not by much, since foreigners
(whom governments normally treat better than their own citizens) could
still redeem dollars for gold. Next, in 1944, in conjunction with the
Bretton Woods agreement, the gold reserve requirements were lowered to
25%. In the late 1960s, through a series of steps, the requirements for
a gold reserve were eliminated altogether. Then, in 1971, the U.S.
government told all foreigners, "If you haven't redeemed your dollars
for gold already, it's too late, ha-ha-ha." The era of Central Bankers
Gone Wild had arrived.

When States Default: 2011, Meet 1841
Yet for all their similarities, there was an ominous difference from
now: Leaders and citizens of the 1840s were more willing to accept new
taxes to pay for the infrastructure and to defend, in the earnest words
of the time, their "moral duty" of meeting debts. In Indiana and Ohio,
property taxes went up eightfold in the early 1840s. New York,
Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Massachusetts all installed state property
taxes, the first in 40 years for Pennsylvania.

Miami-Dade Police Buy Drones
In places such as Kabul, Gaza, and Baghdad, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)
hovering over homes, following suspects, and tracking enemies of the
state are a daily reality.

Fraudclosure Settlement Imminent
To all those who penned lengthy essays and activist missives to various
law enforcement and judicial organizations in 2010 over the fraudclosure
fiasco, we have one word: condolences.

Bank of America Settles Loan Dispute With Frannie Mae
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the financial giants whose failed mortgage
investments made them wards of the government, have accepted $2.8
billion from Bank of America to largely put to rest claims that the bank
sold them faulty loans.

Obama Could Bypass Guantanamo Limits, Aides Say
President Obama’s legal advisers, confronting the prospect of new
restrictions on the transfer of Guantánamo detainees, are debating
whether to recommend that he issue a signing statement asserting that
his executive powers would allow him to bypass the restrictions,
according to several officials.

European Nations Begin Seizing Private Pensions
People’s retirement savings are a convenient source of revenue for
governments that don’t want to reduce spending or make privatizations.
As most pension schemes in Europe are organised by the state,

Bankruptcy Filings Leapt 9% Last Year
The number of Americans filing for personal bankruptcy topped 1.5
million last year, as high long-term jobless rates and depressed home
prices drove more households to seek court protection.

Obama Ready to Deploy Executive Powers
President Obama challenged congressional Republicans to embrace the
"shared responsibility" of governance even as the White House appears
ready to use unilateral executive powers to battle Capitol Hill.

Body of US Military Expert Found Del. Landfill
The body of a military expert who served in three Republican
administrations was found dumped in a landfill over the New Year's
weekend, and investigators said Monday they do not know who might have
killed him.

Anonymous Web Surfing by Bill Rounds
There is less anonymity on the internet than many people realize. When
people surf the web they also leave behind bread crumbs, well their IP
address is left behind. And, unfortunately, those crumbs are awfully
tasty to many little creatures like search engines, snoopers, and cookie
monsters. The wrong creatures getting a hold of those crumbs can leave
you much more than lost and hungry if you are not careful. Comment:
There's a setting in Firefox for private browsing. It works well, but as
this article explains, things will run a bit slower (than usual) while
you're on the internet.

Today In
History Tuesday January 4, 2011
1885 - Dr. William Grant performed the first successful appendectomy.
1896 - Utah became the 45th U.S. state.
1935 - Bob Hope was heard for the first time on network radio as part of
"The Intimate Revue."
1936 - The first pop music chart based on national sales was published
by "Billboard" magazine.
1944 - The attack on Monte Cassino was launched by the British Fifth
Army in Italy.
1948 - Britain granted independence to Burma.
1951 - During the Korean conflict, North Korean and Communist Chinese
forces captured the city of Seoul.
1953 - Tufted plastic carpeting was introduced by Barwick Mills.
1958 - The Soviet satellite Sputknik I fell to the earth from its orbit.
The craft had been launched on October 4, 1957.
1965 - In his State of the Union address, U.S. President Johnson
proclaimed the building of the "Great Society."
1974 - U.S. President Nixon refused to hand over tape recordings and
documents subpoenaed by the Senate Watergate Committee.
1974 - NBC-TV presented hockey in prime time. The Boston Bruins and the
New York Rangers were the teams in the National Hockey League (NHL)
game.
1987 - An Amtrak train bound from Washington to Boston collided with
Conrail engines approaching from a side track, 16 people were killed.
1991 - The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously to condemn Israel's
treatment of the Palestinians in the occupied territories.
1997 - The Greek Cypriot government signed an agreement to buy S-300
surface-to-air missiles from Russia.
1999 - Former professional wrestler Jesse Ventura was sworn in as
Minnesota's 37th governor.
2001 - FBI agents in the Dallas area charged the "Texas 7" of unlawful
flight to avoid federal prosecution for capital murder, broadening the
manhunt nationwide.
2006 - Nancy Pelosi became Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
She was the first woman to hold the position.
2010 - In Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the Burj Dubai (Dubai Tower)
opened as the world's tallest tower at 2,625 feet.

Neotame
- USDA Certified Organic’s Dirty Little Secret
"Organic" food is no longer safe. The FDA and USDA have colluded in
approving the neurotoxin 'Neotame' which may be even more toxic than
aspartame. No labeling will be required, nor will it be listed in the
ingredients. It will be used in USDA certified "organic" processed food
and cattle feed. [The only hope of escape is to raise our own food or
buy from local growers who do not use such chemicals – which is why
Congress recently passed legislation that eventually will put
small-scale organic growers out of business.]

Food Emergency: Millions of Americans Are Heading to Foodbanks for the
First Time in Their Lives
"We're seeing a large number of families that have never needed food
assistance before," reports Traore. How many? So far, for 2010 FBSJ has
witnessed a 10% increase in their client base of approximately 100,000
people. Here's the surprise: a large portion of the people needing food
assistance today are working, and especially among FBSJ's new clients,
many are earning incomes nearly twice the poverty line of $22,055 per
year for a family of four (up to 185% of poverty).

VIDEO:
How They Started the First Gulf War
This is a very suitable representation of how, 20 years ago, the United
States of America embarked on founding the New World Order, and in so
doing, undermined the foundations of our country

Class action
against Morgan, HSBC specifies silver manipulation mechanism
Cafferty Faucher LLP (www.caffertyfaucher.com) filed a lawsuit on behalf
of a class that includes purchasers and sellers of the iShares Silver
Trust (NYSE-Arca SLV) and the ETF Securities Ltd. Silver Trust (NYSE-Arca
SIVR) during the period March 1, 2008, through the present. The lawsuit
alleges that JPMorgan, the custodian of silver backing SLV securities
and the sub-custodian of silver backing SIVR securities, and HSBC, the
custodian of silver backing the SIVR securities, manipulated and
suppressed the price of silver bar financial products, including SLV and
SIVR, in violation of Section 9 of the Securities Exchange Act.

Fallujah Birth Defects Reach Epidemic Levels
New research set to be published this week shows birth defects of
newborn babies in the Iraqi city of Fallujah have reached epidemic
proportions since the city was annihilated six years ago by the US
military.

Dead Fish Cover 20 Miles of Arkansas River
Arkansas Game & Fish is trying to figure out why 100,000 fish in
Northwest Arkansas turned up dead. They were found along a 20-mile
stretch between the Ozark Dam and Highway 109 Bridge in Franklin County.
2

6 top financial trends for 2011
Although the old Chinese curse “may you live in interesting times” has a
certain irony about it, this year will certainly not be dull for
investors. To prepare for it, you’ll need a plan, as always. I suggest
you craft an investment policy statement that puts down in writing your
goals and the amount of money you don’t want to lose. Then plan
accordingly. Comment: How interesting that commodities made this list.

The “Money Supply” with a Gold Standard by Nathan Lewis
Let's look at the United States. The U.S., during the 19th century, had
the most libertarian money and banking system you could imagine. Unlike
Britain, where the Bank of England had an effective monopoly on currency
issuance, it was pretty much a free-for-all in the United States. Anyone
could issue money. Of course, nobody would accept this money unless it
had a credible link to gold. The gold link was mandated by the
Constitution of 1789, and they stuck to it (with some lapses, notably
during the Civil War) until 1933. Comment: This is a brilliant history
article on the demise of the dollar.

Is the World’s Richest Man Getting Into Silver?
A source in mergers and acquisitions out of Europe has alerted King
World News that Carlos Slim may be looking to enter the silver market in
a big way. Gold and silver are in big bull markets and this is
attracting the attention of some of the smartest money around the globe.
James Turk commented, “If this deal does happen Eric, this is going to
make the silver shorts choke.” Fresnillo has a current market cap of
roughly $19 billion. The European source commented, “This deal has been
floating around for a while, but I think this time it is going to
happen. It’s in his backyard. This is the world’s richest man wanting to
get into silver.”

'Death Panels' Are Real - Brought On By Budget Pressures
During the debate over health reform, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.),
Sarah Palin and others railed against the "death panels" that would
result from the bill. Government bureaucrats, critics said, would decide
who would die and when.

Oil Nears
$100, 2008-Style Not In Cards
Nearly three years to the day after oil prices first pierced $100 a
barrel, they are again threatening to break triple digits on a wave of
fund-led optimism, but similarities between 2008 and 2011 end there.

New Laws Govern Guns, Web, Banks
A raft of new federal and local laws ring in the new year, governing a
span of topics from health care and finance to texting, guns and
smoking.

US Approves New Trial Of Embryonic Stem Cells
US biotech company Advanced Cell Technology said Monday it was cleared
by the government to start its second trial using human embryonic stem
cells to treat blindness, this time in older people.

Egypt
On High Alert Over Copt Protests
Police forces are on high alert and have set new checkpoints across the
country, following overnight clashes at Cairo's St. Mark's Cathedral --
headquarters of Coptic leader Pope Shenouda III -- during which 45
policemen were wounded, AFP reported on Monday.

Big Sis Photocopies Credit Cards, Confiscates Christmas Calendars
Despite the fact that TSA agents have routinely been caught abusing
their power for criminal ends, the agency is now instructing its airport
security screeners to make photocopies of people’s credit cards, while
Big Sis is also busy fighting terrorism and protecting America by
confiscating chocolate Christmas advent calendars.

Olive Oil, Green Leafy Vegetables Prevent Heart Disease
Italian researchers have confirmed that diets rich in leafy green
vegetables and olive oil are vital for heart health. Dr. Domenico Palli
from the Cancer Research and Prevention Institute in Florence and his
colleagues discovered that women who eat at least one serving of leafy
greens a day are 46 percent less likely to develop heart disease than
women who eat less.

Today In
History Monday January 3, 2011
1777 - The Battle of Princeton took place in the War of Independence, in
which George Washington defeated the British forces, led by Cornwallis.
1815 - By secret treaty, Austria, Britain, and France formed a defensive
alliance against Prusso-Russian plans to solve the Saxon and Polish
problems.
1823 - Stephen F. Austin received a grant from the Mexican government
and began colonization in the region of the Brazos River in Texas.
1833 - Britain seized control of the Falkland Islands in the South
Atlantic. About 150 years later, Argentina seized the islands from the
British, but Britain took them back after a 74-day war.
1871 - Henry W. Bradley patented oleomargarine.
1888 - The drinking straw was patented by Marvin C. Stone.
1925 - In Italy, Mussolini announced that he would take dictatorial
powers.
1938 - The first broadcast of "Woman in White" was presented on the NBC
Red network. The program remained on radio for 10 years.
1938 - The March of Dimes was established by U.S. President Franklin
Delano Roosevelt. The organization fights poliomyelitis. The original
name of the organization was the National Foundation for Infantile
Paralysis.
1959 - In the U.S., Alaska became the 49th state.
1961 - The U.S. severed diplomatic relations with Cuba.
1962 - Pope John XXIII excommunicated Cuban prime minister Fidel Castro.
1967 - Jack Ruby died in a Dallas, TX, hospital.
1988 - Margaret Thatcher became the longest-serving British Prime
Minister in the 20th century.
1990 - Ousted Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega surrendered to U.S.
forces, 10 days after taking refuge in the Vatican's diplomatic mission.
1991 - The British government announced that seven Iraqi diplomats,
another embassy staff member and 67 other Iraqis were being expelled
from Britain.
1993 - U.S. President H.W. George Bush and Russian President Boris
Yeltsin signed the second Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) in
Moscow.
1995 - WHO reported that the cumulative total of officially reported
cases of AIDS had risen to 1,025,073 in 192 countries as at the end of
1994.
1995 - The U.S. Postal Service raised the price of the first-class stamp
to 32 cents.
2001 - The ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms) charged the
"Texas 7" with weapons violations. An autopsy showed that Office Aubrey
Hawkins, killed by the convicts, had been shot 11 times and run over
with a vehicle.
2004 - NASA's Spirit rover landed on Mars. The craft was able to send
back black and white images three hours after landing.

Military kids taking more psychiatric drugs
Prescriptions increase as families struggle with repeated deployments.
The use of psychiatric medications by military children is on the rise.
Overall, in 2009, more than 300,000 prescriptions for psychiatric drugs
were provided to children under 18 who are Tricare beneficiaries.

Master Lock reassessing China
Milwaukee-based company finds it can compete better from U.S. soil. In a
new twist, however, it's China where Master Lock's costs are rising
disruptively. The company has responded by pulling production back to
Milwaukee, where the manufacturer of iconic padlocks was founded in
1921.

Thousands of birds fall from the sky in Beebe, Ark.
Wildlife officials are trying to determine what caused more than 1,000
blackbirds to die and fall from the sky over an Arkansas town. The
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission said Saturday that it began receiving
reports about the dead birds about 11:30 p.m. the previous night. The
birds fell over a 1-mile area of Beebe, and an aerial survey indicated
that no other dead birds were found outside of that area.
**
10,000s of Birds also found dead in Manitoba

Will 2011 Become 1848?
The United States badly need a change of course, and 2011 will be a good
opportunity to see if the American people will take up the challenge and
march to the barricades. If they do not, there is evil in the air and we
have a long and dreary future ahead of us.

'No Refusal" DUI Blood Test Goes Nationwide Funded on Federal Grant
Money
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers,
and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be
violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause,
supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place
to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”

2010 Was the Deadliest Year for US Troops in Afghanistan
With 496 casualties, 2010 was by far the deadliest year for U.S. troops
fighting a war in Afghanistan that has now entered its tenth year,
according to casualty reports issued by the Department of Defense and
tracked in a comprehensive database of war casualties maintained by
CNSNews.com.

USDA Certified
Organic's Dirty Little Secret: Neotame
Just when we thought that buying “Organic” was safe, we run headlong
into the deliberate poisoning of our organic food supply by the FDA in
collusion with none other than the folks who brought us Aspartame.
NutraSweet, a former Monsanto asset, has developed a new and improved
version of this neurotoxin called Neotame.

House GOP Plans Two-Pronged Assault on Health Law
The new Republican-controlled House plans to schedule a vote to repeal
the sweeping health care overhaul before President Barack Obama delivers
his annual State of the Union address late this month, incoming House
Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) said Sunday.

New Congress Sets Its Eyes on Oversight
The new Republican-majority House will vote on repealing or changing
last year's health care overhaul before the State of the Union address,
Rep. Fred Upton, incoming chairman of the energy and commerce committee,
said on "Fox News Sunday."

Venezuelans Fret Over Prices After Devaluation
Venezuelans worried on Friday that a second devaluation of their
currency in 12 months would make life even harder as the socialist
government of President Hugo Chavez struggled to turn the economy
around.

7th Dies of Injuries From New Year's Eve Tornadoes
Shaken residents spent New Year's Day sifting through the wreckage
wrought by tornadoes that touched down in several states in the final
hours of 2010, killing seven people in two states and injuring dozens of
others.

Next Year's Wars
Across the globe today, you'll find almost three dozen raging conflicts,
from the valleys of Afghanistan to the jungles of the Democratic
Republic of the Congo to the streets of Kashmir. But what are the next
crises that might erupt in 2011? Here are a few worrisome spots that
make our list.

Corn Rationing Needs to Begin
The corn market is extremely tight heading into the New Year, and
analysts expect short supplies and heavy use to keep upward pressure on
corn prices in 2011.

Record Floods Swamp Australia's Northeast
Large parts of Australia's coastal northeast disappeared under
floodwaters on Sunday in a spreading disaster that has brought some of
the highest floods on record and forced thousands from their homes.

All the Health News for 2011, Pre-Written for Your Convenience
As the year 2011 begins, an interesting thought occurred to me. Rather
than spending the whole year writing the news one day at a time, I was
thinking it would be much easier to just write all the headlines for
2011 in advance and let you read them today.

Americans Just Won't Eat Their Vegetables
Twenty years of government and public interest programs aimed at
increasing US vegetable consumption have had no significant effect on
the country's dietary habits, according to a comprehensive nationwide
study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

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